OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


ORATION 


DELIVERED    IN    TAMMANY    HALL,    IN   COMMEMORATION 


BIRTHDAY 


THOMAS    PAIBTE: 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CELEBRATION 

Of  tht  95th  Anniversary  of  that  Day,  (29<A  January  1832,)  by  the  friendi 
and  admirers  of  his  writings. 


PUBLISHED  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  Of  MANAGEMENT. 


MEW  YORK. 

EVANS  &  BROOKS,  PRINTERS,  No.  1  MOTT  STREET,  , 
Corner  of  Chatham  Square, 


MDCCCXXXIL 


TC/7? 


ORATION. 


[THE  Birthday  of  MR.  PAINE  falling  this  year  on  a  Sunday,  it  was  thought 
advisable  to  postpone  the  DINNER  and  BALL  in  commemoration  of  that  event, 
to  the  following  day,  and  to  have  the  Oration  delivered  on  the  preceding  evening. 
Although  that  evening  was,  perhaps,  as  stormy  as  any  other  during  this  remark- 
ably severe  winter,  Tammany  Hall  was  crowded  by  as  respectable  an  audience 
of  ladies  and  gentlemen  as  New  York  could  produce,  to  listen  to  the  following 
ORATION,  delivered  by  Mr.  JOHN  MORRISON.] 


FELLOW  CITIZENS, — 

WE  are  now  assembled  together  to  render  a  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  one  of  the  greatest  men  that  ever  existed  ;  yet,  para- 
doxical as  it  may  appear,  the  man  on  whom  the  most  virulent  and 
unrelenting  abuse  has  been  poured,  for  declaring  his  honest  opinions 
as  to  what  constitutes  the  happiness  of  the  human  race.  Fearlessly, 
and  in  despite  of  what  his  base  calumniators  may  say,  we  are  now 
met  in  this  place  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  proclaiming  to  the 
world  our  unqualified  approbation  of  the  principles  so  powerfully 
advocated,  even  at  the  risk  of  all  that  was  dear  to  existence,  by  the 
ever  to  be  venerated  and  truly  philanthropic  THOMAS  PAINE. 

Although  we  were  not  prompted  to  render  this  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  the  deceased  by  the  force  of  established  custom,  no  one, 
I  trust,  will  deny  that  meetings  to  commemorate  the  natal  day  of 
those  who  have  been  conspicuous  laborers  in  the  great  work  of  hu- 
man happiness,  are  calculated  to  stimulate  the  living  to  emulate 
their  virtues,  and  to  communicate  to  the  bosoms  of  their  descendants 
the  just  and  noble  sentiments  that  animated  their  own. 

In  undertaking  the  arduous,  though  pleasing  task,  of  endeavoring 
to  do  justice  to  the  character  of  this  amiable  man,  I  am  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  truth  of  what  has  been  more  than  once  remarked, 
that  the  present  age  is  incapable  of  sufficiently  appreciating  the 
imperishable  labors  of  his  mighty  mind.  I  have  likewise  felt,  that 
my  talents  were  too  feeble  to  depict,  in  its  true  colors,  the  bitter  ani- 
mosity with  which  his  character  and  writings  have  been  assailed, 
and  the  heartlessness  with  which  even  those  who  profess  to  admire 
these  writings,  have  defended  the  fair  fame  of  their  author.  But  as 
my  object  has  been  to  state  facts,  rather  than  indulge  in  idle  de- 
clamation ;  and  as  I  am  persuaded  the  greater  part  of  those  who 
now  hear  me  would  prefer  this  course  to  a  florid  harangue,  in  which 
sense  was  sacrificed  to  sound,  I  throw  myself  entirely  on  your  in- 


diligence,  while  1  proceed  to  do  no  more  than  what  I  consider  an 
act  of  justice,  and  what,  as  rational  beings,  we  owe  to  all  our  spe- 
cies,— the  vindication  of  an  injured  man  from  the  vituperations  of 
bigotry  and  fanaticism. 

THOMAS  PAINE,  although  a  native  of  Great  Britain,*  was,  in  the 
strict  sense  of  the  word,  a  citizen  of  the  world.  Long  before  the 
American  "  Declaration  of  Independence"  announced  the  impor- 
tant, arid,  to  tyrants,  the  appalling  truth,  that  "  all  men  are  born 
free  and  equal,"  he  had  cherished  this  sentiment  in  his  bosom  ;  and 
the  first  proof  that  he  gave  of  its  paramount  influence  in  his  mind, 
was,  to  fly  to  the  aid  of  his  brethren  in  this  country,!  who  were 
struggling  to  free  themselves  from  a  cruel  and  foreign  despotism. 
He  could  not,  it  is  true,  be  of  much  service  in  a  military  point  of 
view,  to  those  he  came  to  assist.  But  what  he  lacked  in  this  respect, 
he  more  than  supplied  by  his  powerful  pen.  When  the  army  of 
the  brave  Washington  was  reduced  to  nearly  the  last  extremity,  and 
the  opinion  was  almost  universal  that  the  cause  of  American  liberty 
was  hopeless,  Paine,  confident  in  the  correctness  of  his  principles, 
and  determined  to  avow  them  at  all  hazards,  stepped  forward,  and 
in  his  admirable  treatise  entitled  "Common  Sense,"  and  in  the 
"  Crisis,"  urged  the  necessity  of  a  virtual  separation  from  the  op- 
pressors, and  the  formation  of  a  government  congenial  with  the  true 
principles  of  liberty. 

This  fearless  attempt,  in  which  he  stood  alone,  had  the  desired 
effect.  The  project  was  almost  unanimously  hailed  with  rapture. 
The  slumbering  energies  of  the  nation  were  roused — our  forefathers 
rushed  to  arms — and,  by  conforming  to  those  principles  which  the 
mighty  mind  of  Paine  was  alone  capable  of  conceiving,  that  political 
fabric  was  reared  of  which  we  now  so  justly  boast,  because  it  is  cal- 
culated to  secure  to  all  the  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of  their  natural 
rights. 

Having  aided,  in  so  essential  a  manner,  in  establishing  the  liber- 
ties of  this  country,  and  perceiving  in  the  political  horizon  indica- 
tions of  better  days  for  enslaved  Europe,  he  hastened  to  his  native 
country,!  which  he  reached  at  the  moment  the  breaking  out  of  the 
French  Revolution  threatened  the  overthrow  of  all  the  existing 
thrones  in  that  quarter  of  the  globe.  Here  he  associated  with  those 
great  men,§  whose  memory  will  be  ever  held  dear  by  the  friends  of 
liberty,  for  the  sacrifices  they  made  in  the  common  cause  of  hu- 
manity ;  and  from  whom  emanated  that  impressive  "Address  and 
Declaration,"  written  by  Paine,  in  which  they  "  congratulate  the 
French  nation  for  having  laid  the  axe  to  the  root  of  tyranny,  and 
for  erecting  a  government  on  the  sacred  hereditary  rights  of  man — 
rights  which  appertain  to  all,  and  not  to  any  one  more  than  ano- 
ther;" and  fearlessly  declared,  that  they  "  know  of  no  human 

*  Mr.  Paine  was  born  at  Thetford,  in  Norfolk,  England,  on  the  29th  Jan.  1737. 

t  He  arrived  in  the  United  States  in  the  month  of  April,  1775. 

t  1787. 

^  Home  Tooke,  Thomas  Hardy,  and  others. 


authority  superior  to  that  of  a  whole  nation,  which  has  at  all  time* 
an  inherent,  indefeasible  right  to  constitute  and  establish  such 
government  for  itself,  as  best  accords  with  its  disposition,  interest, 
and  happiness." 

This  appeal,  containing  an  avowal  of  principles  so  subversive  of 
established  systems,  roused  the  indignation  of  the  aristocracy  in 
Great  Britain  to  such  a  degree,  that  the  most  oppressive  measures 
were  resorted  to,  in  order  to  prevent  their  promulgation,  and  to 
punish  those  who  had  had  the  hardihood  to  avow  them.  By  the 
suspension  of  the  habeas  corpus  act,  hundreds  were  imprisoned 
without  knowing  for  what.  Some  of  these  were  brought  to  trial 
accused  of  high  treason,  and  acquitted  :  others,  charged  with  sedi- 
tion only,  were  convicted,  and  transported  to  inhospitable  climes, 
for  a  long  series  of  years,  and  from,  whence,  with  only  one  excep- 
tion,* none  of  them  ever  returned  to  their  native  land.  Paine,  not 
Imping  been  suspected  at  this  time  by  the  English  ministry  as  having 
been  any  \ray  active  in  exciting  the  public  mind,  escaped  unnoticed. 
But  when  the  writings  of  the  apostate  Burke,f  who  was  hired  for 
the  purpose  of  assailing  the  principles  of  the  French  Revolution, 
induced  Paine  to  give  to  the  world  the  '*  Rights  of  M:in,"  he  then 
became  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  government,  who  immediately 
marked  him  out  for  destruction.  Before,  however,  the  schemes  for 
his  ruin  could  be  completed,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Na- 
tional Assembly  of  France,  by  several  electorates  ;  and  having  made 
choice  of  Calais,  a  deputation  of  his  constituents  waited  upon  him 
in  England,  to  escort  him  to  Paris,  where  he  was  received  with  that 
attention  which  must  ever  prove  gratifying  to  a  noble-minded,  and 
truly  virtuous  man. 

While  in  the  National  Assembly,  the  talents  of  Paine  were 
remarkably  conspicuous  in  repelling  every  attack  on  the  new  Con- 
stitution ;  arid  when  the  unfortunate  Louis  was  on  his  trial  at  the 
bar  of  that  House,  he  evinced  his  great  humanity  by  voting  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  sentence  which  sent  that  monarch  to  the  scaffold.  For 
this  intrepid  act  Robespierre  never  forgave  Paine.  During  the 
reign  of  terror,  this  sanguinary  despot  caused  him  to  be  imprisoned  ; 
but  he  fortunately  escaped  the  decapitation  which  this  scourge  of 
the  human  race  intended  to  inflict. 

Hitherto  the  attention  of  Paine  had  been  chiefly  directed  to  a 
revolution  in  politics;  and  although  it  must  have  gratified  him 
much  to  witness  the  beneficial  effect  of  his  writings  in  Europe,  as 
well  as  in  America,  his  penetrating  genius  could  not  fail  to  discover 
that  no  nation  could  be  considered  frtt^  while  the  mind  was 
twimelled  with  opinions  subversive  of  the  first  principles  of  liberty. 
He  had,  doubtless,  taught  mankind  that  they  were  best  qualified  to 
govern  by  representatives  chosen  from  among  themselves,  without 
the  aid  of  kings  or  of  nobles.  But  he  could  not 'shut  his  eyes  to  the 
fact,  that  besides  kings  and  nobles,  there  existed  another  power  in 

*  Maurice  Margarott.  t  Vide  Appendix  No.  I. 


alliance  with  these — a  power  continually  opposed  to  the  civil  power 
—consisting  of  a  body  of  priests,  who,  in  virtue  of  their  pretended 
divine  mission  and  sacred  office,  arrogated  the  right  of  giving  laws 
to  the  universe.  Puffed  up  with  the  titles  they  had  given  themselves, 
he  saw  these  men  every  where  laboring  to  exact  obedience,  and 
claiming  dangerous  prerogatives,  which  none  were  suffered  to  ques- 
tion without  incurring  the  displeasure  of  the  Almighty.  And  so 
well  had  the  priesthood  managed  this  matter,  that,  in  many  coun- 
tries, the  people  were  to  be  seen  inclined  more  to  the  authority  of 
the  church  than  to  that  ofth*e  government.  Indebted  to  the  priest- 
hood for  what  they  styled  the  "  right  divine"  to  govern,  the  rulers 
of  the  earth  were,  on  their  part,  necessarily  compelled  to  concede 
to  this  order  an  undue  influence,  and  to  confer  on  its  members  dig- 
nity, titles,  and  revenues,  which  enabled  them  to  become  the  rivals 
of  sovereigns,  and  to  dispose  of  their  crowns  at  pleasure.  Thus 
invested,  the  people  were  subjected  to  the  will  of  the  priesthood, 
whose  principal  aim  was  to  deprive  the  mind  of  its  vigor,  by  instill- 
ing into  it  a  senseless  superstition.  Vice  thus  became  encouraged  ; 
and  largesses  to  the  church  supplied  the  place  of  morals,  and  atoned 
for  the  most  atrocious  crimes.  Such,  indeed,  was  the  ascendancy 
that  the  priesthood  had  acquired,  and  still  hold  in  many  countries, 
that  they  hesitated  at  no  crimes,  however  enormous,  or  however 
much  they  violated  the  principles  of  humanity.  The  bonds  of  jus- 
tice were  too  weak  to  restrain  their  vicious  propensities  ;  and  when 
they  found  it  necessary,  which  they  frequently  did,  to  raise  the  cry, 
"  the  church  is  in  danger — our  religion  is  assailed — the  cause  of 
heaven  must  be  defended" — men  became  irrational  beings;  they 
imbibed  the  ferocity  of  the  tiger,  and,  like  beasts  of  prey,  thirsted 
for  the  blood  of  their  fellow  men,  whom  the  artful  priest  had  marked 
out  as  victims  of  cruelty. 

History  is  filled  with  so  many  instances  of  the  atrocities  of  this 
order  of  men,  that  volumes  mighl  be  written  on  the  subject.  Can 
it  be  a  matter  of  surprise,  then,  that  Paine,  with  this  history  lying 
before  him,  stained  with  so  many  crimes  of  the  priesthood,  and 
having  himself  witnessed,  on  many  occasions,  the  pernicious  effect 
of  their  influence  and  example — can  it,  I  say,  surprise  any  one  who 
reflects  for  a  moment,  that  he  whose  whole  mind  was  fully  bent,  at 
all  hazards,  on  ameliorating  the  condition  of  man,  should  employ 
his  great  talents  in  exposing  this  monstrous  evil  ?  The  surprise 
would  rather  have  been,  that  he  should  have  refrained  from  endea- 
voring to  prostrate  a  power  fraught  with  so  much  danger  to  human 
happiness  ;  because  he  must  have  foreseen,  and  his  writings  show 
he  did  foresee  it,  that  so  long  as  the  human  mind  is  entirely  sub- 
mitted to  the  control  of  an  interested  priesthood,  who  say  and  do  as 
they  please,  so  long  will  mankind  remain  in  a  state  of  abject  slave- 
ry. For  of  what  avail  is  it  to  be  politically  free  while  mentally  en- 
slaved ?  Of  what  use  is  it  to  be  acquainted  with  the  "  rights  of  man," 
if  our  "  reason"  is  not  at  perfect  liberty  to  make  a  proper  applica- 
tion of  these  rights  ? 


Viewing  matters,  therefore,  in  this  light — the  light  in  which  Paine 
evidently  contemplated  them, — convinced  that  the  man  who  sways 
the  mind  of  another,  has  as  great  a  power  over  his  actions^  as  if  he 
actually  held  him  in  fetters,  he  engaged  in  the  task  of  mental  eman- 
cipation with  the  same  ardor,  and  pursued  it  with  the  same  steady 
perseverance,  that  had  marked  his  former  career.  As  when  assailing 
political  corruption  he  felt  unawed  by  the  sacred  character  with 
which  they  had  invested  royalty,  so  when  he  commenced  the  "Age 
of  Reason,"  he  was  regardless  of  the  trickery  of  the  priesthood,  who 
have  fenced  their  dogmas  round  with  "  holiness,"  and,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preventing  the  too  inquisitive  from  prying  into  their  myste- 
ries, and  exposing  their  frauds,  have  inculcated  the  doctrine  that 
there  are  certain  subjects  which  ought  to  be  approached  with  "  re- 
verential awe,"  and  humble  prostration  of  intellect.  Disdaining  a 
doctrine  so  infamous — a  doctrine  by  which  kings  as  well  as  priests 
have  too  long  contrived  to  perpetuate  their  despotic  sway,  Paine  en- 
tered on  the  investigation  of  "  theology"  with  a  mind  entirely  free 
from  prejudice,  and  with  a  determination  to  exercise  the  noble  fa- 
culty of  Reason,  which  the  priests  had  so  much  decried,  but  without 
which  even  they,  with  all  their  boasted  learning,  would  be  worse  than 
the  brute  species.  However  much  this  band  of  conspirators  against 
the  exaltation  of  human  nature  declaimed  against  free,  unrestrained 
discussion,  Paine  was  not  to  be  intimidated.  Where  Truth  was  the 
object  contemplated,  it  appeared  to  him  the  greatest  absurdity  to  sup- 
pose that  any  one  could  go  too  far  in  their  investigations  ;  and  ridi- 
culous to  expect  that  the  enemies  of  Truth  could  be  silenced  by  soft 
and  honied  words.  Nor  could  he  conceive  how  the  eyes  of  others 
could  be  opened  to  imposture,  by  drawing  a  veil  over  its  deeds.  To 
rid  the  world  of  spiritual  tyranny,  he  saw  the  necessity  of  attacking 
it  fearlessly,  and  depicting  it  in  its  true  colors  ;  for  if  it  was  not  rep- 
resented as  it  really  was  ;  if  mankind  were  not  put  on  their  guard 
in  a  language  which  all  could  understand,  against  those  who  traffic 
in  deception,  how  could  the  cause  of  mental  emancipation  be  pro 
moted  ;  how  the  reign  of  error  and  of  priestcraft  be  terminated? 

To  justify  the  encroachments  the  priests  had  made  on  public 
liberty,  they  pretended  that  they  were  "  Ambassadors  from  heaven." 
"  Where,  then,"  asked  Paine,  "  are  your  credentials  1  If,  as  you 
say,  you  are  *  sent  from  God,5  show  us  these  credentials.  By  these 
and  these  only  can  we  judge  of  the  reality  of  your  mission."  They 
point  to  the  Bible,  which  they  dignify  by  the  name  of  the  "  Word  of 
God ;"  and  Paine,  taking  his  stand  at  once  on  this  pretended 
revelation  of  the  divine  will,  enters  without  hesitation  on  the  inves- 
tigation. 

The  result  of  this  inquiry  is  to  be  found  in  the  "Age  of  Reason.11 
In  that  work  we  find  the  most  incontrovertible  reasons  for  reject- 
ing the  assertions  of  the  priesthood,  that  it  was  written  by  the 
inspiration  of  God.  Even  the  existence  of  Moses,  who  is  said  to 
have  been  the  author  of  the  first  five  books,  is  shown  to  be 
problematical ;  and  that  the  account  of  the  Jews — who  are  represent- 


ed  in  these  writings  aa  having  been  a  great  nation,  as  having  had  a 
Jong  genealogy  of  kings,  a  city  built  on  the  most  improved  style  of 
architecture,  and  a  temple  in  which  to  worship  their  god,  far  surpass- 
ing any  thing  belonging  to  Grecian  or  Roman  mythology — could 
be  nothing  but  fictions,  as  the  Jews,  as  a  nation,  were  never  heard 
of  till  long  after  the  Babylonish  captivity,  and  were  even  then 
regarded  as  a  horde  of  wild  Arabs — as  the  "  most  barbarous  of  all 
the  barbarians."  This,  at  once  rendered  the  authenticity  of  these 
books  more  than  questionable,  and  struck  an  effectual  blow  at  the 
credentials  of  the  priesthood. 

But  this  is  not  all :  Paine  has  shown,  in  the  "  Age  of  Reason," 
that  the  person  or  persons  who  wrote  the  Bible  were  entirely  ignorant 
of  the  most  obvious  principles  of  natural  philosophy,  which  could 
not  be  the  case  if  divine  wisdom  had  any  thing  to  do  in  the  forma- 
tion of  these  writings.  Even  of  the  being  who  is  said  to  have 
inspired  this  book,  the  most  ridiculous  and  disgusting  narratives  are 
shown  to  disgrace  its  pages.  He  is  there  represented  as  altogether 
made  up  of  human  qualities — having  eyes  to  see* — hands  and  arms 
to  deal  vengeance  on  his  foesf — ears  to  hearj — a  mouth  to  speak§ — 
feet  to  walk, ||  and  a  head  covered  with  hair.ft  In  one  part  of  these 
books,  he  is  represented  as  a  savage  bear.**  In  another  as  a 
voracious  leopard. ft  Sometimes  he  is  made  to  appear  in  the  cha- 
acter  of  a  warrior.|J  At  other  times  like  a  drunkard  in  a  state  of 
beastly  intoxication. §§  He  is  also  represented  (as  Paine  has  shown) 
in  the  pages  of  this  inspired  volume,  as  a  cruel,  vindictive,  revenge- 
ful, imbecile,  changeable,  and  suspicious  tyrant,  who  knew  not  how 
to  conduct  himself  with  propriety  towards  his  subjects;  who  amused 
himself  by  laying  snares  to  entrap  them  ;  and  who  imposed  trials  on 
them,  and  laid  temptations  before  them,  that  he  might  have  the- 
pleasure  of  inflicting  punishment  for  yielding  to  these  trials  and  to 
these  temptations.  "Whenever  (to  use  the  emphatic  words  of  Paine 
himself)  we  read  the  obscene  stories,  the  voluptuous  debaucheries, 
the  cruel,  torturous  executions,  and  the  unrelenting  vindictiveness 
with  which  more  than  half  the  Bible  is  filled,  it  would  be  more  con- 
sistent that  it  be  called  the  word  of  a  demon^  than  the  word  of  God. 
It  is  a  history  of  wickedness  that  has  served  to  corrupt  and  brutalize 
mankind.  Did  this  book  excel  in  purity  of  ideas  and  expression 
all  the  books  that  are  now  extant  in  the  world,  I  would  not  take  it 
for  my  rule  of  faith  as  being  the  "  word  of  God,"  because  the  pos- 
sibility would  nevertheless  exist  of  my  being  imposed  upon.  But 
when  I  see,  throughout  the  greatest  part  of  this  book,  scarcely  any 
thing  but  a  history  of  the  grossest  vices,  and  a  collection  of  the  most 
paltry  and  contemptible  tales,  I  cannot  dishonor  my  creator  by 
calling  it  by  his  name." 


*  Prov.  xv.  3.          t  Jer.  xxi.  5.          J  Paa.  xxxiv.  15.          §  Isa.  Iv.  11, 
|  Ezek.  xliii.  7.       IT  Dan.  vii.  9.         **  Lam.  iii.  10»  ft  Hosea  xiiu  7. 

U  Exod.  xv.  3.        M  Psa.  Ixxviii.  65. 


9 

Such  is'the  character  given  by  Paine,  after  a  careful  examination, 
of  writings  which  have  so  long  been  regarded  sacred  by  the  multi- 
tude, and  on  which  the  priesthood  have  established  an  empire  more 
powerful,  and  more  degrading  to  the  human  mind,  than  the  most 
despotic  empire  of  the  East. 

In  discussing  the  merits  of  the  New  Testament  books,  Paine 
expresses  himself  in  the  same  undaunted  and  candid  manner.  "I 
have  now  (lie  says)  gone  through  the  examination  of  the  four  books 
of  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke  and  John  ;  and  when  it  is  considered  that 
the  whole  space  of  time  from  the  crucifixion  to  what  is  called  the 
ascension,  is  hut  a  few  days,  and  that  all  the  circumstances  are  said 
to  have  happened  nearly  about  the  same  spot,  Jerusalem;  it  is,  I 
believe,  impossible  to  find  in  any  story  upon  record  so  many  and 
such  glaring  absurdities,  contradictions,  and  falsehoods,  as  are  in 
these  books." 

If  the  nature  of  this  address  did  not  preclude  a  labored  criticism 
on  Paine's  writings,  how  easily  could  it  be  shown,  by  citations  from 
these  writings,  that  the  whole  fabric  of  Christianity  was  reared  on 
a  baseless  foundation.  We  are  told  that  the  reputed  founder  of 
that  system,  whose  existence  is  more  than  questionable,  was  the 
eternal  and  immutable  God.  Paine  hesitated  to  acknowledge  a 
position  so  startling.  He  could  not  entertain  the  idea  that  the  God 
of  Nature  could  appear  on  the  earth  in  the  form  of  man  ;  that,  as 
the  New  Testament  represents,  he  should  be  born  of  a  woman — the 
son  of  a  carpenter — delivered  in  a  stable — nursed  in  a  manger — 
hang  as  an  infant  on  the  breast  of  his  mother — driven  about  from 
place  to  place,  having  no  where  to  lay  his  head — scourged — tried  and 
condemned  to  death  for  disturbing  the  public  tranquillity — expiring 
on  a  cross,  and  entombed  in  a  sepulchre.  No,  no — Paine,  as  a  rational 
man,  did  not  believe,  and  no  other  rational  man  who  will  allow  himself 
to  reflect  on  the  subject,  could  not  for  a  moment  believe  that  the  God 
of  Nature  was  subjected  to  such  indignities.  Common  sense  revolts 
at  the  belief  of  such  absurd  and  ridiculous  nonsense.  Yet  it  was 
for  exposing  these  absurdities — for  daring  to  avow  his  disbelief  of 
these  idle  tales — that  Paine  was  accused  of  blasphemy ;  his  memory, 
even  to  this  day,  held  in  abhorrence  by  the  unreflecting,  and  almost 
every  crime  attributed  to  him  of  which  man  is  supposed  capable  of 
being  guilty. 

It  is  no  less  true  than  it  is  deplorable,  that  the  person  who  has 
the  hardihood  to  break  through  the  trammels  of  mental  error — who 
has  the  courage  to  proclaim  the  falsehood  of  delusive  and  petrifying 
systems — who  has  the  honesty,  like  the  immortal  Paine,  to  lay  bare 
the  glaring  impositions  of  the  priesthood — is  exposed  to  nil  the 
rancorous  and  inhuman  treatment  that  can  be  inflicted  by  a  bewil- 
dered, maddened,  and  fanatical  multitude.  Such  was  the  case  on 
the  appearance  of  the  "  Age  of  Reason."  The  efforts  of  the  priests 
to  counteract  the  influence  of  the  truths  which  it  proclaimed  were 
so  successful,  that  their  stupid  votaries  became  insane.  They  ima- 
gined that  it  would  be  pleasing  to  deity  to  exterminate  every  one 


JO 

whose  ideas  did  not  correspond  with  their  own  blind  and  stupid 
fancies.  They,  therefore,  regarded  Paine  as  a  monster,  whose 
destruction  would  be  the  most  acceptable  service  they  could  perform 
to  secure  the  approbation  of  their  idol. 

It  might  have  been  expected,  if  the  "  Age  of  Reason"  was  that 
disgraceful  production  which  the  priesthood  are  in  the  practice  of 
representing  it,  that  of  the  seventy  thousand  of  that  order  in  Great 
Britain  alone,  some  hundreds  at  least  would  have  been  found  capa- 
ble of  refuting  the  bold  assertions  of  its  author,  and  which  militated 
so  powerfully  against  the  stability  of  the  system  by  which  they  were 
maintained  in  ease  and  affluence.  One  priest  only  (Bishop  Wat- 
son) ventured  to  enter  the  lists  with  Paine  ;  but  as  his  sole  object 
was prefermtntf  it  is  easy  to  perceive  from  his  writings  that  even  the 
bishop,  with  all  his  learning,  despaired  of  controverting  the  facts 
and  lucid  arguments  of  so  powerful  an  antagonist.  The  rest  of  the 
testy  herd  of  reverends,  right  reverends,  and  fathers  in  god,  thought 
it  the  best  policy  to  shrink  from  the  contest,  and  to  endeavor,  in 
their  pulpit  harangues,  to  divert  the/ attention  of  their  credulous 
followers  from  the  merits  of  the  case,  by  insinuations  prejudicial  to 
the  character  of  Paine,  or  by  affixing  a  stigma  on  his  opinions, 
which  they  knew  would  render  them  unpopular  with  an  ignorant 
and  superstitious  multitude. 

Unable  to  meet  him  in  the  fair  field  of  argument,  they  resorted  to 
abuse.  Reason  was  too  powerful  for  them,  and  therefore  they  de- 
cried Reason.  The  only  means  of  defence  to  which  they  resorted 
was  foul  language.  Paine  was  denounced  an  Atheist  and  a  blas- 
phemer, and  his  writings  pronounced  "  highly  displeasing  to  Al- 
mighty God,"  and  subversive  of  the  principles  of  morality. 

When  the  enemies  of  Paine  substitute  abuse  for  argument,  they 
do  not  seem  to  be  aware  that  this  is  tantamount  to  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  correctness  of  his  principles,  and  of  their  awn  inability 
to  combat  his  incontrovertible  reasoning.  When  they  call  him  an 
Atheist,  they  evince  their  total  ignorance  of  what  he  has  written  ; 
for  it  is  impossible  to  peruse  the  "  Age  of  Reason,"  without  disco- 
vering that  its  author  believed  in  the  being  of  a  God,  and  consoled 
himself  with  the  hope  of  enjoying  the  reward  of  a  virtuous  life  in  a 
future  state  of  existence. 

As  to  the  charge  of  blasphemy,  the  word  has  no  meaning  when 
applied  to  religion.  It  is  a  word,  doubtless,  that  operates  most 
powerfully  on  the  generality  of  minds.  But  all  that  can  be  said  of 
it  is,  a  speaking  evil  of  a  system  of  words.  To  vilify  or  blaspheme 
the  character  of  our  neighbor,  would  be  injurious,  because  it  would 
bring  him  into  discredit  among  his  equals.  But  how  can  man,  by 
any  thing  he  says  or  writes,  injure  the  character  of  deity,  who  is 
acknowledged  to  have  no  equal?  If  one  man  speaks  evil  of  another 
man's  religion,  he  does  no  more  than  question  the  truth  or  correct- 
ness of  certain  opinions  ;  and  if  he  convinces  him  that  he  is  in  error, 
he  performs  a  moral  act,  for  which  he  ought  to  be  applauded. 
Paine  ha§  been  charged  with  "  unsettling  the  faith  of  thotiiandi" 


11 

by  his  writings.  But  he  could  not  have  done  this,  if  the  faith  which 
he  unsettled  had  been  well  founded.  So  far,  therefore,  from  being 
justly  stigmatized  for  giving  his  opinions  to  the  world  on  the  subject 
of  religion,  those  who  defame  him  on  that  account  not  only  do  in- 
justice to  his  character  and  motives,  but  virtually  pass  a  censure  on 
themselves  whenever  they  advance  opinions  the  correctness  of  which 
may  be  disputed  by  other?. 

No  small  portion  of  abuse  has  been  heaped  on  the  memory  of 
Paine,  on  account  of  the  alleged  scurrility  of  his  writings.  "  He 
should,"  say  his  enemies,  "  have  had  more  respect  than  he  has 
shown  for  the  prejudices"  of  others.  He  should  not  have  been  so 
sarcastic.  He  should  have  shown  more  deference  for  "  holy  things" 
than  to  have  "  held  them  up  to  ridicule."  Now  if  Paine  had  be- 
lieved in  the  contents  of  the  "Holy  Bible,"  as  it  is  called,  he  never 
would  have  attempted  to  impeach  its  character,  or  have  pronounced 
it  an  imposition.  If  he  had  even  entertained  an  idea  that  any  one 
could  prove  it  to  be  true,  he  would  have  been  extremely  cautious  as 
to  his  mode  of  treating  it.  But  when  he  found  in  that  book  a  mere 
system  of  notions,  without  proofs  or  realities,  he  saw  no  reason  for 
regarding  it  in  a  more  favorable  light  than  he  would  have  done  any 
other  book  which  might  have  been  the  subject  of  free  discussion. 
If  he  had  not  found  tilings  in  themselves  ridiculous  pervading  the 
greater  part  of  the  Bible,  he  would  not  have  employed  ridicule  to 
render  it  contemptible.  Indeed,  unless  there  had  been  something 
ridiculous  to  work  upon,  all  the  wit  and  all  the  satire  in  the  world 
would  have  been  vainly  directed  against  it.  Criticism,  even  although 
severe,  gives  a  lustre  to  truth  ;  it  belongs  to  error  alone  to  dread  its 
influence.  If  Paine  had  flattr.rtd,  instead  of  ridiculed  the  prejudices 
of  others,  it  micht.  perhaps,  have  been  better  for  him.  He  might 
have  escaped  the  many  persecutions  which  he  suffered  while  alive, 
and  those  who  admire  his  character  and  principles  would  not  now 
have  found  it  necessary  to  rebut  the  numerous  falsehoods  which 
have  been  circulated  respecting  him  by  a  fanatical  and  relentless 
foe.  But  did  Paine  flatter  the  political  prejudices  of  the  enemies 
of  liberty  in  his  "  Rights  of  Man?"  No.  Why  then  should  he  have 
flattered  their  religious  prejudices  in  his  "Age  of  Reason?"  Was 
it  more  his  duty  as  a  philanthropist  to  flatter  than  to  remove  these 
prejudices?  And  if  the  mass  of  mankind  were  so  wedded  to  antiquated 
system?,  founded  on  a  volume  of  ridiculous  and  puerile  narratives 
diametrically  opposed  to  each  other,  and  subversive  of  all  good 
sense  and  sound  morality,  they  could  expect  nothing  else  than  to 
have  their  favorite  dogmas  exhibited  in  their  true  colors. 

The  doctrine,  that  "it  is  best  to  chime  in  with  public  prejudices 
— that  this  is  the  safest  course  to  follow — the  most  generally  re- 
spected— that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  alter  it,  and,  therefore,  it 
ought  not  to  be  abused,"  received  no  countenance  from  Paine.  It  is 
a  doctrine  which  he  was  well  aware  might  suit  the  taste  of  tyrants 
and  slavish  formalists,  but  it  could  never  meet  the  approbation  of 
impartial  reason,  nor  accord  with  the  interests  of  society.  If  a 


12 

principle  like  this  were  to  be  sanctioned,  there  would  be  an  end  to 
all  improvement.  Every  invention  or  discovery  for  the  benefit  of 
mankind  would  be  discouraged  ;  and  the  intellectual  faculty,  the 
most  glorious  ornament  with  which  Nature  has  endowed  man, 
would  be  of  little  use,  if  priests  and  despots  were  to  accomplish  their 
desire  in  thus  attempting  to  cramp  its  exertions. 

It  has  been  offered  as  an  apology  for  the  style  of  writing  adopted 
by  Paine,  that  he  was  illiterate,  knowing  only  his  own  language,  and 
possessing  but  a  smattering  of  French.  This  apology  I  consider 
altogether  inadmissible.  The  sole  object  of  Paine  was  to  convey 
instruction  to  the  mind.  He  was  a  child  of  Nature,  and  his  language 
Nature's  Eloquence.  He  considered  knowledge  as  "consisiing  no 
longer  in  a  given  quantity  of  words,  but  in  making  words  the  real 
signs  of  the  real  qualities  of  real  bodies,  and  in  using  no  one  word 
that  was  not  a  sign  of  a  real  body,  or  its  quality.'*  lie  disdained, 
therefore,  all  artificial  embellishments — all  those  tropes  and  figures 
so  much  resorted  to  by  what  are  called  "  fine  writers,"  but  which, 
»o  far  from  conveying  any  useful  knowledge,  seldom  fail  to  darken 
the  understanding.  It  is  ridiculous  to  suppose  that  a  knowledge  of 
Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  and  the  other  oriental  languages  which  are 
thought  necessary  to  "  form  the  scholar  and  accomplished  gentle- 
man," ever  made  a  wise  man.  To  the  statesman  who  has  to 
conduct  the  foreign  relations  of  a  government,  and  to  the  traveller, 
this  course  of  study  might  be  useful  and  even  desirable.  But  I  have 
almost  uniformly  found  the  man  whose  head  is  filled  "with  classic 
lore,"  very  deficient  in  the  true  meaning  and  application  of  his 
native  language,  and,  in  general,  very  ignorant  of  the  principles  of 
philosophy.  "True  glory  (says  Pliny)  consists  in  having  done 
something  worth  the  writing — having  written  something  worth  the 
reading,  and  having  made  the  world  better  and'happier  for  having 
lived  in  it." 

This  was  the  only  glory  which  Paine  was  ambitious  of  attaining; 
and  however  much  his  enemies  may  exert  themselves  to  rob  him  of 
his  well  earned  fame,  his  writings  will  remain  an  imperishable 
monument  of  his  talents  and  virtues  so  long  as  the  race  of  man 
endures. 

Had  Paine's  writings  been  of  that  "immoral"  tendency  which 
has  been  alleged,  his  enemies  would,  long  ere  this,  have  pointed 
out  the  passages  which  they  pretend  warrant  this  charge.  But  they 
have  not  done  so,  and  that  for  the  best  of  all  reasons — his  works 
contain  nothing  of  an  immoral  character.  On  the  contrary,  the 
•whole  of  his  writings,  hitherto  published,  inculcate  the  most  correct 
and  benevolent  principles.  Even  his  political  writings,  besides 
conveying  important  instruction,  are  full  of  moral  sentences,  which 
may  he  read  with  pleasure  by  every  votary  of  truth  and  justice.  It 
is  only  such  as  have  never  perused  his  works,  and  who  form  an 
opinion  of  them  merely  from  the  denunciations  of  the  priesthood,  who 
declaim  against  them.  I  appeal  to  those  who  have  read  them  with 
attention,  particulary  the  "Age  of  Reason,"  if  the  principles  ther« 


IS 

inculcated  are  not  every  way  calculated  to  improve  the  condition  of 
man.  No  one  can  say  that  any  thing  is  to  be  found  in  the  pages  of 
the  latter  work  unfit  for  the  perusal  of  females  or  of  children.  There 
you  have  no  obscene  tales  to  pollute  the  ears,  or  raise  a  blush  on  the 
cheek  of  innocence.  Can  this  be  said  of  the  Bible,  so  much 
vaunted  of  for  its  moral  precepts,  and  which  is  alleged  to  have  been 
inspired  by  a  God  of  purity  ? 

It  was  the  great  object  of  Paine  to  teach  only  what  was  useful. 
Benevolence  breathes  through  the  whole  of  his  writings,  and  the 
importance  and  utility  of  those  virtues,  the  practice  of  which  he 
so  forcibly  recommended,  he  strikingly  illustrated  by  the  actions  of 
his  life.  I  have  already  alluded  to  his  humane  efforts  in  endeavor- 
ing to  save  the  life  of  the  king  of  France.  However  much  he 
detested  royalty,  *'  his  benevolent  heart  (as  has  been  justly  remarked^ 
could  feel  for,  and  plead  the  cause  of  suffering  humanity  even  in 
the  person  of  a  king.  Cruelty  and  revenge  were  passions  too  base 
and  ignoble  to  reside  in  his  expansive  bosom.  He  delighted  in 
seeing  all  men  happy;  and  he  considered  no  sacrifice  too  great 
which  tended  to  promote  the  general  good." 

But  this  is  not  the  only  instance  recorded  of  the  humanity  and 
generous  feelings  displayed  by  Paine  at  the  period  alluded  to. 
While  a  member  of  the  National  Assembly  of  France,  he  received  a 
blow  from  an  1n  temper  ate  Knglishman  ;  an  offence  punishable  at  that 
time  with  death,  under  a  law  passed  for  the  special  protection  of  the 
persons  of  the  Deputies.  But  instead  of  giving  up  the  violator  of 
this  law  to  be  punished,  Paine  assisted  him  to  escape  from  Paris, 
and  actually  gave  him  money  to  convey  him  to  England,  which  the 
fugitive  reached  in  safety. 

All  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  being  intimately  acquainted 
with  Paine  confirm,  by  their  united  testimony,  the  truth  which  these 
facts  so  clearly  establish,  that  he  was  a  man  of  the  most  benevolent 
feelings,  and  that  his  whole  energies  were  devoted  to  the  amelioration 
of  the  condition  of  the  human  race.  If  time  would  premit,  many  of 
thfse  testimonies  might  now  be  cited.  But  as  this  is  not  the  case, 
I  shall  merely  occupy  your  attention  with  a  short  extract  of  a  letter 
from  tbe  much  and  deservedly  lamented  Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald, 
who  fell  a  victim  to  British  tyranny.*  He  was  at  Paris  in  1 792, 
and  in  writing  to  his  mother,  he  says,  "I  lodge  with  my  friend 
Paine.  We  breakfast,  dine,  and  sup  together.  The  more  I  see  of 
his  interior,  the  more  I  like  and  respect  him.  I  cannot  express 
how  kind  he  is  to  me — there  is  a  simplicity  of  manner,  a  goodness 
of  heart,  and  a  strength  of  mind  in  him,  that  I  never  knew  any 
man  before  possess." 

Who  is  there  among  the  pious  calumniators  of  this  great  man 
that  would  not  be  proud  to  merit  so  high  an  encomium?  Who  among 
them  that  would  not  prize  above  all  things  the  amiable  disposition 
which  could  spontaneously  elicit  from  a  person  of  such  superior 

*  Vide  Appendix  No.  «. 


u 

rank  an  tlilogy  so  well  deserved  by  the  object  for  which  it  trai 
intended1?  Yet  have  these  wholesale  slanderers  never  ceased  since 
the  amiable  Paine  was  consigned  to  the  silent  tomb,  to  fabricate, 
and  put  in  circulation,  the  most  barefaced  and  malignant  falsehoods 
respecting  him  ;  and  even  after  these  falsehoods  have  been  again 
and  again  refuted,  they  persist  in  reiterating  them  in  their  pious 
journals,  the  contents  of  which  they  well  know  are  implicity  credited 
by  their  deluded  followers,  and  who  can  never  be  undeceived  through 
the  same  channels — because  it  ever  has  been  the  policy  of  the 
conductors  of  these  vehicles  of  slander,  to  exclude  every  thing  from 
their  pages  which  has  a  tendency  to  do  justice  to  the  reputation  of 
Paine.*  Instances  could  even  be  mentioned  where  the  editors  of 
papers,  professing  to  advocate  liberal  principles,  have  studiously 
avoided  mentioning  even  the  name  of  Paine;  while  they  have  extolled 
that  of  Washington,  of  Jefferson,  and  of  Franklin,  as  the  prominent 
leaders  in  that  revolution,  which  their  great  co-patriot  had  done  so 
much  by  his  pen  to  consolidate.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  withhold  one 
atom  of  praise  from  the  individuals  \\hose  names  I  have  just 
mentioned.  They  will  ever  be  honored  for  the  services  they 
performed  by  a  grateful  and  admiring  country.  But  if  the  ex- 
ertions of  Paine,  at  that  eventful  period  which  "tried  men's  souls," 
are  fairly  appreciated,  I  arn  persuaded  it  will  be  acknowledged 
that  although  there  may  have  been  minds  in  activity  as  great  as 
his,  yet  none  of  them  were  so  "wisely  great."  In  moral  courage, 
he  unquestionably  surpassed  all  his  cotemporaries  ;  for  who 
among  them  would  have  had  the  daring,  like  him,  to  unveil  the 
frauds  and  deceptions  practised  by  the  ministers  of  a  mysterious 
theology]  who  assail,  as  did  Paine,  this  "bulwark  of  religion, 
founded  on  the  rock  of  nges,"  and  which  claimed  to  be  under  the 
immediate  protection  of  a  terrible  and  an  avenging  deity?  Even 
Franklin,  after  having  nearly  disarmed  the  thunder  of  its  terrors, 
shrunk  with  dismay  at  the  apprehension  of  being  assailed  by  the 
malignant  shafts  of  superstition,  on  account  of  the  doubts  he  enter- 
tained as  to  the  divinity  of  Jesus.  Although  it  is  scarcely  to4>e 
questioned  that  Washington  was  a  liberal,  it  is  in  vain  to  deny  the 
fact,  that  he  cautiously  concealed  his  principles,  and,  in  some 
respects,  acted  a  double  part,  lest  he  should  render  himself  obnoxious 
to  the  priesthood.  If  Jefferson  had  published  his  sentiments  on 
theology,  as  Paine  did,  is  it  not  probable  lie  would  have  been 
excluded  from  the  presidental  chair,  and  denounced  as  a  detestable 
infidel,  instead  of  a  good  patriot? 

After  what  has  been  said,  can  it  for  a  moment  be  doubted,  that 
the  treatment  which  Paine  has  met  with,  and  the  odium  which  has 
been  attached  to  his  name,  has  been  occasioned  solely  by  the  influ- 
ence of  the  priesthood?  In  Great  Britain,  such  was  the  animosity 
which  these  men  entertained  towards  him,  that  if  he  had  not  been 
beyond  the  reach  of  their  jurisdiction,  they  never  would  have  been 


*  Vide  Appendix  No.  3. 


15 

satisfied  until  they  had  glutted  their  demonaical  feelings  with  th« 
blood  of  their  victim.  Although  the  soil  of  the  United  States  has, 
in  a  great  measure,  escaped  the  pollution  consequent  on  the  san- 
guinary inflictions  of  these  spiritual  tyrants,  there  have  heen  periods, 
even  in  this  free  country,  when  the  persons  of  our  citizens  were  not 
always  safe  from  the  effects  of  a  blind  and  furious  fanaticism — when 
men,  pretending  to  be  influenced  by  maxims  of  kindness  and  peace, 
evinced  themselves  to  be  inexorable  persecutors.* 

It  cannot  but  be  gratifying  to  every  liberal  mind,  that  the  princi- 
ples advocated  by  Paine,  and  which  have  had  so  powerful  an  influ- 
ence in  softening  people's  minds,  and  in  staying  the  iron  hand  of 
persecution,  are  every  day  making  fresh  inroads  on  the  strong  holds 
of  ignorance  and  superstition.  Notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  of 
the  priesthood,  who,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  are  untiring  in  their 
endeavors  to  plunge  the  human  rnind  into  a  state  of  darkness — the 
light  which  the  writings  of  Paine  has  shed  over  a  bewildered  world, 
affords  a  rational  and  well  founded  expectation,  that  tyranny,  what- 
ever shape  it  may  assume,  is  doomed  to  be  swept  from  the  face  of 
the  earth. 

To  adopt  the  emphatic  language  of  Ensor, — "  Philosophy,  that 
much  injured  name,  to  which  all  that  is  kind,  comprehensive,  and 
wise,  is  to  be  attributed — which  assuages  the  passions  of  the  soul 
like  oil  poured  on  the  stormy  ocean;  philosophy,  the  medicine  of 
the  unfortunate,  the  glory  and  ornament  of  the  happy — that  pure 
principle  which  performs  good,  not  from  fear  of  punishment,  nor 
hopes  of  reward,  but  from  spontaneous  love  ;  philosophy,  which 
pronounces  the  labors  of  the  husbamlman  safe  amidst  the  shock  of 
contending  armies,  and  causes  inveterate  foes  sacredly  to  respect 
the  ships  and  missionaries  of  science  ;  philosophy,  which,  over- 
leaping the  boundaries  of  nations,  surveys  all  mankind  as  one  com- 
mon family — which  has  done  so  much,  and  still  pursues  intrepidly 
its  illustrious  enterprize — error  and  interest,  and  malice  and  ambi- 
tion may  impede,  but  shall  never  stay  its  course.  The  opposing 
wind  frets  the  surface  of  the  coming  tide;  but,  if  moved  from  its 
foundations  by  a  more  powerful  influence,  it  rolls  securely  forward 
to  the  shores  of  its  destination. "f 


*  Vide  Appendix  No.  4. 

t  Ensor's  Principles  of  Morality. 


APPENDIX. 


NO.  I. 

All  the  misrepresentations — all  the  falsehoods  that  have  heen, 
and  are  at  this  moment  in  circulation  respecting  the  causes  of  the 
anarchy  and  bloodshed  that  prevailed  during  the  French  revolution, 
are  to  be  traced  to  Edmund  Burke — an  apostate  from  liberty- — the 
hired  tool  of  an  unprincipled  government,  whose  only  hopes  of  suc- 
cess depended  on  corruption  and  bribery.  Of  this  man — this 
advocate  of  religion — this  vilifier  of  the  French  revolution — history 
records  the  following  facts  : — 

During  our  revolutionary  war,  he  was  introduced  into  the  British 
parliament  under  the  auspices  of  the  whig  party;  the  then  leader 
of  which,  Earl  Fitzwilliam,  not  only  patronized,  but  supplied  Burke 
with  the  means  of  subsistence.  At  first,  he  violently  opposed  the 
government ;  applauded  the  resistance  offered  by  this  country  to  the 
tyranny  of  England  ;  and  openly  exulted  in  our  success. 

When  Thomas  Paine  left  America  for  England,  he  no  sooner 
landed  there,  than  Burke  solicited  his  acquaintance,  and  became 
his  intimate  friend.  Sir  Richard  Phillips,  well  known  as  the 
editor  of  the  London  Monthly  Magazine,  is  in  possession  of  a 
letter  of  Burke's,  in  which  he  expressed  the  highest  gratification  at 
having,  the  day  previous,  been  "introduced  to,  and  sat  down  to 
dinner  with  the  celebrated  Thomas  Paine,  the  author  of  Common 
Sense." 

In  the  writings  of  Mr.  Paine  it  is  stated,  and  never  has  been  de- 
nied, that  his  intimacy  with  Burke  continued  as  long  as  he  remain- 
ed in  England.  When  the  French  revolution  broke  out,  Burke 
espoused  the  republican  cause  with  the  same  ardor  that  he  had 
advocated  the  rights  of  this  country;  and  when  Mr.  Paine  visited 
Paris,  to  assist  in  the  councils  of  the  revolutionists,  he  was  solicited 
by  this  same  Burke  to  furnish  him  with  authentic  and  early  intelli- 
gence of  what  was  passing,  or  about  to  pass,  in  France — assigning 
as  a  reason  for  this  solicitation,  his  attachment  to  the  cause  of  liber- 
ty, and  his  determination,  as  a  public  man,  to  become  the  apologist 
of  the  revolutionists,  even  in  the  British  parliament.  Mr.  Paine, 
relying  on  the  sincerity  of  his  professions,  furnished  Burke  for 
several  months  with  the  information  he  required.  Nor  did  the  for- 
mer even  doubt  the  fidelity  of  the  latter,  until  Burke  commenced 
writing  against  France,  and  was  actually  in  the  pay  of  Pitt,  the 
British  Prime  Minister. 

Such,  in  a  few  words,  is  the  character  of  Edmund  Burke,  on 
whose  statements  the  priesthood  rely,  when  they  ascribe  the  dis- 
graceful occurrences  of  the  French  revolution  to  the  influence  of 
liberal  principles. 


17 

NO.    II. 

Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald,  a  man  pecaliarly  dear  to  Irishmen, 
was  the  fifth  son  of  the  Duke  of  Leinster,  and  the  idol  of  his  family. 
He  was  born  in  1763,  and  at  the  age  of  17  he  entered  the  army. 
After  serving  as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  British  army  under  Lord  Raw- 
don,  in  the  beginning  of  our  revolution,  and  for  some  time  in  the 
West  Indies,  in  the  staff  of  General  O'Hara,  Lord  Edward  returned 
to  Ireland,  where  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  parliament  of  that 
country.  He  afterwards  made  the  tour  of  Spain,  and  with  his  regi- 
ment proceeded  to  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  had  for  some  time  the 
chief  command.  On  his  return  to  England,  he  was  offered  the 
command  of  an  expedition  to  Cadiz;  but  he  declined  on  hearing 
that  it  was  expected  he  should  no  longer  vote  with  the  opposition 
in  parliament. 

Attracted  by  the  great  political  drama  then  acting  in  France, 
he  proceeded  to  Paris  in  1792  ;  from  whence  he  returned  to  his 
native  land,  completely  imbued  with  republicanism.  He  was  one 
of  the  very  small  majority  that  Irish  patriotism  at  that  time  afforded; 
and  having,  in  voting  against  a  congratulatory  address  to  the  Lord 
Lieutenant,  expressed  himself  with  great  warmth,  he  incurred  the 
displeasure  of  the  government;  but  this,  so  far  from  discouraging, 
led  him,  as  a  sense  of  duty,  into  the  ranks  of  the  United  Irishmen, 
of  which  he  became  the  military  head. 

In  this  character  he  went  to  France,  where  he  arranged  the  inva- 
sion of  Ireland  with  General  Hoche.  On  the  failure  of  that  expedi- 
tion, treason  crept  into  the  ranks  of  the  United  Irishmen,  which  led 
to  the  apprehension  of  some  of  the  leaders  ;  Lord  Edward  only 
escaping  at  that  time  from  having  concealed  himself  in  the  houses 
of  his  friends.  He  was  traced  at  last,  and  when  found  was  reclining 
in  his  bed.  lie  started  up,  and  inflicted  a  fatal  wound  with  a  pistol 
on  one  of  his  assailants,  and  another  he  wounded  .with  a  dagger. 
He  was  then  shot,  and  secured.  But  his  death  in  prison,  from  the 
wounds  he  had  received,  disappointed  the  wishes  of  his  enemies, 
who  expected  to  see  him  expire  on  the  scaffold,  as  a  murderer  or  a 
traitor.  His  wife  and  friends  were  refused  admittance  to  him  in 
prison,  although  his  brother  was  allowed  that  indulgence  when  this 
great  patriot  was  on  the  eve  of  expiring. 

Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald,  the  intimate  friend  of  Paine,  died  as 
he  had  lived — the  same  kind  and  affectionate  being.  His  death 
was  lamented  long  and  deeply  by  his  relations,  and  his  memory 
will  ever  be  revered  by  the  friend's  of  freedom  in  every  country. 


NO.    III. 

Of  all  the  calumnies  promulgated  against  Mr.  Paine,  that  of  his 
having  been  a  "  confirmed   drunkard,"  is  still   most  tenaciously 
adhered  to,  although  the  fact  of  his  having,  when  upwards  of  70 
3 


18 

years  of  age,  written,  "  The  third  part  of  the  Age  of  Reason  ;"  his 
'*  Examination  of  the  Prophecies ;"  and,  almost  every  week,  con- 
tributed largely  to  newspapers  and  other  periodicals,  is  sufficient 
to  convince  any  unprejudiced  mind  of  the  utter  falsehood  of  the 
accusation.  But  as  there  are  some  men  who  are  either  too  malignant 
ever  to  do  justice  to  a  man  whom  they  have  once  abused,  or  too 
stupid  not  to  perceive  that  a  person  who  "  sotted,"  must  be  incapa- 
ble of  conveying  by  his  pen  correct  ideas  to  others,  we  publish  the 
following  documents  for  their  special  information.  If,  however,  they 
still  feel  a  gratification  in  persuading  themselves,  in  despite  of  these 
documents,  that  Mr.  Paine  was  other  than  he  is  there  represented,  it 
is  to  be  hoped  they  will  have  the  prudence  in  future  to  refrain  from 
obtruding  their  obnoxious  and  gratuitous  assertions  on  the  notice  of 
the  public. 

The  first  document  to  which  we  refer,  is  a  letter  of  James  Cheet- 
harn,  the  author  of  the  infamous  string  of  libels,  published  by  him  as 
"  the  Life  of  Thomas  Paine  ;"  which  Cheetharn  addressed  to  Joel 
Barlow,  at  one  time  Ambassador  from  this  country  to  France  : — 

"  TO  JOEL  BARLOW. 

u  SIR — Not  having  the  honor  of  a  personal  acquaintance  with 
you,  the  trouble  this  note  will  occasion,  will  require  some  apology, 
and  the  only  one  I  can  offer  regards  the  subject  of  it,  arid  the  readi- 
ness with  which  your  character  persuades  me  you  will  furnish  me 
the  information  required,  as  soon  as  you  have  leisure  to  do  so. 

"I  am  preparing  to  write  the  life  of  Thomas  Paine,  author  of 
Common  Sense,  &c.  As  you  were  acquainted  with  him  in  Paris, 
and  he  mentioned  you  in  his  *  Age  of  Reason,1  your  opinion  of  his 
manners  and  habits,  the  company  he  kept,  &c.  would  be  very 
acceptable. 

"  He  was  a  great  drunkard  hero,  and  Mr.  M*****,  a  merchant  of 
this  city,  who  lived  with  him  when  he  was  arrested  by  order  of 
Robespierre,  tells  me  he  was  intoxicated  when  that  event  hap- 
pened. 

"Did  Paine  ever  take  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  France]  In  his 
letter  to  the  French  people  in  1792,  he  thanks  them  for  electing  him 
a  member  of  the  convention,  and  for  the  additional  honor  of  making 
him  a  French  citizen.  In  his  speech  on  the  trial  of  the  king,  he 
speaks,  he  says,  as  a  citizen  of  France.  There  is  some  difference 
between  being  a  member  of  a  convention  to  make  a  constitution, 
and  a  member  of  the  same  body  to  try  the  king,  and  transact  other 
business.  I  should  imagine  that  in  the  latter  capacities,  an  oath  of 
allegiance  would  be  necessary. 

"Any  other  information  you  would  be  pleased  to  communicate, 
which  in  your  judgment  would  be  useful  in  illustrating  his  character, 
will  be  gratefully  received,  and  used  as  you  may  direct. 

"I  am,  &c.  JAMES  CHEETHAM, 

••  New  For*,  July  21,  1809." 


19 

The  following  is  the  answer: — 

"  TO  JAMES  CHEETHAM. 

"SiR — I  have  received  your  letter,  calling  for  information  relative 
to  the  life  of  Thomas  Paine.  It  appears  to  me,  that  this  is  not  the 
moment  to  publish  the  life  of  that  man  in  this  country.  His  own 
writings  are  his  best  life,  and  these  are  not  read  at  present. 

"The  greatest  part  of  the  readers  in  the  United  States  will  not  be 
persuaded,  as  long  as  their  present  feelings  last,  to  consider  him  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  drunkard  and  a  deist.  The  writer  of  his 
Jife  who  should  dwell  on  these  topics,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  great 
and  estimable  traits  of  his  real  character,  might  indeed  please  the 
rabble  of  the  age,  who  do  not  know  him  ;  the  book  might  sell ;  but 
it  would  only  tend  to  render  the  truth  more  obscure  for  the  future 
biographer,  than  it  was  before. 

"  But  if  the  present  writer  should  give  us  Thomas  Paine  complete^ 
in  all  his  character,  as  one  of  the  most  benevolent  and  disinterested 
of  mankind,  endowed  with  the  clearest  perception,  an  uncommon 
share  of  original  genius,  and  the  greatest  breadth  of  thought ;  if  this 
piece  of  biography  should  analyze  his  literary  labors,  and  rai»k  him, 
as  he  ought  to  be  ranked,  among  the  brightest  and  most  undev  iating 
luminaries  of  the  age  in  which  he  has  lived — yet  with  a  mind  assail- 
able by  flattery,  and  receiving  through  that  weak  side  a  tincture  of 
vanity  which  he  was  too  proud  to  conceal ;  with  a  mind,  though 
strong  enough  to  bear  him  up,  and  to  rise  elastic  under  the  heaviest 
hand  of  oppression,  yet  unable  to  endure  the  contempt  of  his  former 
friends  and  fellow  laborers,  ihe  rulers  of  the  country  that  had 
received  his  first  and  greatest  services — a  mind  incapable  of  looking 
down  with  serene  compassion,  as  it  ought,  on  the  rude  scoffs  of 
their  imitators,  a  new  generation  that  knows  him  not;  a  mind  that 
shrinks  from  their  society,  and  unhappily  seeks  refuge  in  low 
company,  or  looks  for  consolation  in  the  sordid,  solitary  bottle  ;  till 
it  sinks  at  last  so  far  below  its  native  elevation,  as  to  lose  all  respect 
for  itself,  and  to  forfeit  that  of  his  best  friends,  disposing  these  friends 
almost  to  join  with  his  enemies,  and  wish,  though  from  different 
motives,  that  he  would  hasten  to  hide  himself  in  the  grave — if  you 
are  disposed  and  prepared  to  write  his  life  entire,  to  fill  up  the 
picture  to  which  these  hasty  strokes  of  outline  give  but  a  rude  sketch 
with  great  vacuities,  your  book  may  be  a  useful  one  for  another 
age,  but  it  will  not  be  relished,  nor  scarcely  tolerated  in  this. 

"  The  biographer  of  Thomas  Paine  should  not  forget  his 
mathematical  acquirements,  and  his  mechanical  genius.  His 
invention  of  the  iron  bridge,  which  led  him  to  Europe  in  the  year 
1787,  has  procured  him  a  great  reputation  in  that  branch  of  science 
in  France  and  England,  in  both  which  countries  his  bridge  has  been 
adopted  in  many  instances,  and  is  now  much  in  use. 

"  You  ask  whether  he  took  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  France. 
Doubtless  the  qualification  to  be  a  member  of  the  convention, 
required  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  that  country,  but  involved  in  it  no 


20 

abjuration  of  his  fidelity  to  this.  He  was  made  a  French  Citizen  by 
the  same  decree  with  Washington,  Hamilton,  Priestly,  and  sir 
James  Mackintosh. 

"  What  Mr.  M*****  has  told  you  relative  to  the  circumstances  of 
his  arrestatiorj  hy  order  of  Robespierre,  is  erroneous,  nt  least  in  one 
point.  Paine  did  not  lodge  at  the  house  where  he  was  arrested,  hut 
had  been  dining  there  with  some  Americans,  of  whom  Mr.  M***** 
may  have  been  one.  I  never  heard  before  that  Paine  was  intoxicated 
that  night.  Indeed,  the  officers  brought  him  directly  to  my  house, 
which  was  two  miles  from  his  lodgings,  and  about  as  much  from  tho 
place  where  he  had  been  dining.  He  was  not  intoxicated  when 
they  came  to  me.  Their  object  was  to  get  me  to  go  and  assist  them 
to  examine  Paine's  papers.  It  employed  us  the  rest  of  that  night, 
and  the  whole  of  the  next  day,  at  Paine's  lodgings ;  and  he  was  not 
committed  to  prison  till  the  next  evening. 

"  You  ask.what  company  he  kept — he  always  frequented  the  best, 
Loth  in  England  and  France,  till  he  became  the  object  of  calumny 
in  certain  American  papers,  (echoes  of  the  English  court  papers) 
for  his  adherence  to  what  he  thought  the  cause  of  liberty  in  France 
— till  he  conceived  himself  neglected  and  despised  by  his  former 
friends  in  the  United  States.  JFrom  that  moment  he  gave  himself 
rery  much  to  drink,  and  consequently  to  companions  less  worthy  of 
his  better  days.* 

**  It  is  said  he  was  always  a  peevish  inmate — this  is  possible.  So 
was  Laurence  Sterne,  so  was  Torqunto  Tasso,  so  was  J.  J.  Rousseau 
— but  Thomas  Paine,  as  a  visiting  acquaintance,  and  as  a  literary 
friend,  the  only  points  of  view  in  which  I  knew  him,  was  one  of  the 
most  instructive  men  I  have  ever  known.  He  had  a  surprising 
memory  and  brilliant  fancy  ;  his  mind  was  a  storehouse  of  facts  arid 
useful  observations ;  he  was  full  of  lively  anecdote,  and  ingenious 
original  pertinent  remark,  upon  almost  every  subject. 

"  He  was  always  charitable  to  the  poor  beyond  his  means,  a  sure 
protector  and  friend  to  all  Americans  in  distress  that  he  found  in 
foreign  countries  ;  and  he  had  frequent  occasions  to  exert  his 
influence  in  protecting  them  during  the  revolution  in  France.  His 
writings  will  answer  for  his  patriotism,  and  his  entire  devotion  to 
what  he  conceived  to  be  the  best  interests  and  happiness  of  mankind. 

**  This,  sir,  is  all  I  have  to  remark  on  the  subject  you  mention — 
now  I  have  only  one  request  to  make,  and  that  would  doubtless 
seem  impertinent,  were  you  not  the  editor  of  a  newspaper;  it  is, 
that  you  will  not  publish  my  letter,  nor  permit  a  copy  of  it  to  be 
taken.t  I  am,  sir,  &c.  JOEL  BARLOW. 

"  Kalorama,  August  n,  1809." 

*  It  is  probable  that  even  Mr.  Barlow  had  been  led,  by  the  slanders  of  Paine's 
enemies,  to  believe  him  more  addicted  to  drinking  than  he  really  was  ;  for  the 
expression  "gave  himself  very  much  to  drink"  is  not  reconcilable  with  the  in- 
disputable testimony  which  follows. 

t  The  correspondence  between  Cheetham  and  Joel  Barlow  first  appeared  in 
the  *'  Theophilanthropist,"  a  periodical  published  in  New  York  in  1812 ;  but  the 
editor  does  not  say  how  he  obtained  possession  of  either  of  the  letters. 


21 

The  other  document  to  which  we  have  alluded,  is  extracted  from 
the  Correspondent,  Vol.  I.  p.  60.  It  was  printed  from  the  original 
MS.,  in  the  hand  writing  of  Mr.  Morton. 

*' A  short  narrative  of  the  later  period  of  the  life  of  THOMAS  PAINE, 
written  by  Walter  Morton,  Esq.  of  New  York,  one  of  his  executors. 

"  On  Mr.  Value's  return  to  New  York,  in  1802,  a  public  dinner 
was  given  him  at  the  City  Hotel.  I  being  one  of  the  committee  of 
arrangements,  who  prepared  toasts  for  the  occasion,  it  led  me  to 
an  acquaintance  with  that  justly  celebrated  man,  which  continued 
without  intermission  to  the  day  of  his  death.  I  visited  Mr.  Paine 
several  times  at  his  farm  at  New  Rochelle,  twenty-one  miles  from 
New  York,  where  he  resided  in  pare  of  1804  and  1805;  after  he 
returned  to  reside  in  the  city,  1  was  in  the  constant  habit  of  spending 
t\vo  or  three  evenings  with  him  every  week;  these  visits  were 
generally  from  seven  to  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  1  usually 
remained  with  him  till  about  ten,  at  which  hour  he  went  to  bed. 
We  generally  drank  two  small  tumblers  of  rum  and  water,  each 
containing  less  than  half  a  gill  of  rum,  reduced  to  what  is  commonly 
called  glass  proof.  We  rarely  exceeded  this ;  and  sometimes  for 
weeks,  and  even  months,  almost  in  succession,  I  saw  him  in  bed 
before  my  departure,  and  put  out  his  candle.  While  in  health,  he 
generally  rose  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  ;  he  always  took 
a  nap  for  about  two  hours  after  dinner.  And  while  at  the  farm,  I 
ascertained  from  those  who  lived  in  the  house,  as  well  as  the  store 
keeper  who  supplied  the  liquor,  that  the  weekly  allowance  was 
limited  to  a  quart,  whatever  visiters  might  be  called  to  partake. 

"In  the  73d  year  of  his  age,  and  but  a  few  months  before  his 
death,*  his  mental  faculties  continued  strong,  firm  and  vigorous,  arid 
his  memory  so  retentive  as  to  repeat  verbatim  whole  sentences 
either  in  prose  or  verse,  of  any  thing  which  had  previously  struck 
his  mind  :  this  he  always  did  with  great  ease  and  grace.  About  six; 
months  before  his  death,  his  limbs  became  so  feeble  that  he  could 
scarcely  move  through  the  room :  he  told  me,  when  alone,  that  he 
felt  the  decay  of  nature  fast  increasing,  that  he  might  possibly  live 
six  or  even  twelve  months,  but  it  could  not  exceed  much  beyond 
that  time  ;  and  feared  nothing  but  being  reduced  to  a  bedridden 
state,  so  as  to  lie  incapable  of  helping  himself. 

"  In  his  religious  opinions  he  continued  to  the  last  as  steadfast  and 
tenacious  as  any  sectarian  to  the  definition  of  his  own  creed.  He 
never  indeed  broached  the  subject  first ;  but  to  intrusive  and  inquisi- 
tive visiters  who  came  to  try  him  on  that  point,  his  general  answer 
was  to  this  effect : — *  My  opinions  are  before  the  world,  and  all 
have  had  an  opportunity  to  refute  them  if  they  can  ;  I  believe  them 
unanswerable  truths,  and  that  I  have  done  great  service  to  mankind 
by  boldly  putting  them  forth  ;  I  do  not  wish  to  argue  upon  the  subject ; 
I  have  labored  disinterestedly  in  the  cause  of  truth.'  I  shook  his  hand 
after  the  use  of  speech  was  gone,  but  while  the  other  organs  told  me 

*  Mr.  Paine  died  in  Ne\r  York  on  the  8th  of  June,  1509. 


22 

sufficiently  that  he  knew  me  and  appreciated  my  affection,  his  eyes 
glistened  with  genius  under  the  pangs  of  death." 
TESTIMONY  OF  MR.  BURGER. 

I,  David  I.  Burger,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  being  fully  satisfied 
of  the  nefarious  attempts  to  injure  the  cause  and  spread  of  free  en- 
quiry, by  the  base  practice  of  vilifying  and  traducing  the  characters 
of  its  leaders:  and  being  particularly  aware  of  the  gross  slanders 
everywhere  propagated  in  relation  to  the  moral  character  of  Thomas 
Paine,  author  of  the  "Age  of  Reason,"  hereby  certify — 

That  I  became  personally  acquainted  with  said  Paine  in  the  year 
1803,  who  was  then  residing  at  New  Rochelle,  about  20  miles  from 
New  York  ; — that  I  was  then  in  the  employ  of  Capt.  Daniel  Pelton, 
one  of  Paine's  particular  friends,  so  that  I  had  frequent  opportunities 
of  witnessing  his  conduct  while  there  ; — that  T  resided  fora  number 
of  weeks  in  the  same  house  with  him,  and  that  I  slept  in  the  same 
room  with  him  while  he  resided  at  Mr.  Staple's,  another  friend^of 
his  in  that  place; — that  I  was  in  the  habit  of  seeing  him  at  all  times 
in  the  day,  and  never  saw  him  inebriated  ; — that  during  this  time  I 
served  him  with  all  the  liquor  that  he  and  those  who  visited  him 
used,  and  as  it  was  all  charged  to  him  in  the  books  of  Capt.  Pelton 
by  rne,  according  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  I  am  confident  it 
could  not  have  exceeded  one  quart  per  week. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  this  sixth  day 
of  December,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-one. 

Signed  in  the  presence  of          \  D  1V1D  I.  BURGER. 

GARDNER  JONES,      f 

NO  IV. 

The  following  passage  formed  part  of  the  "Oration,"  as  originally 
written  : — "  Thanks  to  the  framers  of  the  general  constitution  ; — 
but,  in  a  more  especial  manner,  thanks  to  the  influence  of  the  wri- 
tings of  Paine — sufficient  protection  is  now  guaranteed  to  all,  not 
only  in  the  enjoyment,  but  in  the  open  expression  of  opinions,  whe- 
ther they  relate  to  religion  or  politics.  It  is  in  virtue  of  that  guaran- 
tee that  we  now  assemble  in  this  place,  to  utter  and  to  hear  senti- 
ments delivered,  which  if  attempted  to  be  uttered  little  more  than 
half  a  century  ago,  would  have  consigned  the  daring  individual  to 
a  dungeon,  or,  probably,  to  the  gallows." 

An  opinion  having  been  expressed  by  some  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  that  the  general  constitution  did  not  afford  the 
"  guarantee"  above  stated,  the  passage  was  omitted  in  the  delivery  ; 
and  is  only  here  quoted  that  something  further  may  be  elicited  on 
this  all  important  subject. 

In  the  "  Declaration  of  Rights,"  which  led  to  the  framing  of  the 
general  constitution,  (Art.  12,)  it  is  stated,  that  "the  people  have  a 
right  to  freedom  of  speech,  and  of  writing  and  publishing  their 
sentiments ;  therefore  the  freedom  of  the  press  ought  not  to  be  re- 
strained." 

In  the  "Amendments  to  the  General  Constitution,"  (Art.  1,)  it 


23 

is  enacted,  that  "  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  the  esta- 
blishment of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or 
abridging  the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press." 

The  writer  of  this  is  of  opinion  that  those  two  articles  are  suffi- 
cient to  support  the  affirmative,  of  the  question.  And  he  is  con- 
firmed in  this  opinion,  when  he  finds  that  Jefierson,  who  drew  up- 
the  "  Declaration  of  Rights,"  entertained  the  same  enlarged  view 
of  the  subject.  "  The  legitimate  powers  of  government,"  says 
Jefferson,  "  reach  actions  only,  and  not  opinions.  I  contemplate 
with  sovereign  reverence  the  act  of  the  whole  American  people, 
which  declared  that  their  legislature  should  '  make  no  law  respecting 
an  establishment  of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  there- 
of:' thus  building  a  wall  of  separation  between  church  and  state." 

But  I  am  further  borne  out  in  the  opinion  for  which  I  am  con- 
tending, by  the  unanimous  concurrence  which  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  gave  to  the  invaluable  "Report"  of  Colonel  Johnson 
on  the  transportation  of  the  Mail  on  Sunday,  and  which  has  been 
correctly  designated  a  clear  exposition  of,  or  commentary  on,  the 
"  Declaration  of  Rights,"  in  as  far  as  regards  the  rights  of  con- 
science. In  that  "  Report"  it  is  stated — "  Our  government  is  a 
civil)  and  not  a  religious  institution.  Our  constitution  recognises 
in  every  person  the  right  to  choose  his  own  religion,  and  to  enjoy  it 
freely i  without  molestation Among  all  the  religious  perse- 
cutions with  which  almost  every  page  of  modern  history  is  stained, 
no  victim  ever  suffered  but  for  the  violation  of  what  government  de- 
nominated the  laws  of  God.  To  prevent  a  similar  train  of  evils  in 
this  country,  the  constitution  has  wisely  withheld  from  our  govern- 
ment the  power  of  defining  the  divine  law.  It  is  a  right  reserved  to 
each  citizen;  and  while  he  respects  the  equal  rights  of  others,  he 
cannot  be  held  answerable  to  any  tribunal  for  his  conclusions" 

The  House  of  Representatives  also  adopted  a  "  Report"  contain- 
ing a  similar  declaration  as  to  the  rights  of  conscience :  and  both 
these  Reports  have  been  approved  of  by  upwards  of  nine  tenths  of 
the  population  of  the  United  States. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  WILL  OF  THOMAS  PAINE,  IN  RELATION 

TO  MRS.  BONNEVILLE. 

"I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  executors  hereinafter  appointed, 
Walter  Morton  and  Thomas  Addis  Emmet*  thirty  shares  I  hold  in 
the  New  York  Phenix  Insurance  Company,  which  cost  me  fourteen 
hundred  and  seventy  dollars  ;  they  are  worth  now  upwards  of  fifteen 
hundred  dollars;  and  all  my  moveable  effects,  and  also  the  money 
that  may  be  in  my  trunk  or  elsewhere  at  the  time  of  my  decease, 
paying  thereout  the  expenses  of  my  funeral,  IN  TRUST,  as  to  the 
said  snares,  moveables,  and  money,  for  Margaret  Brazier  Bonne- 
ville,  of  Paris,  for  her  own  sole  and  separate  use,  at  her  own  dispo- 
sal, notwithstanding  her  coverture." 

(Signed)  THOMAS  PAINE. 


BIRTHDAY  OF  THOMAS  PAINE. 


An  Account  of  tJie  Celebration  of  the  95th  Anniversary  of  the 
.Birthday  of  Thomas  Paine,  by  the  friends  and  admirers  of  his 
writings. 

[From  the  New  York  Daily  Sentinel,  of  February  2.] 

On  Sunday  last,  Dec.  29th,  the  Anniversary  of  the  birthday  of 
the  AUTHOR  of  the  "  RIGHTS  OF  MAN,"  and  the  "  AGE  OF  REASON," 
an  ADDRESS  in  commemoration  of  the  event  was  delivered  to  a 
crowded  audience  in  Tammany  Hall,  by  John  Morrison,  arid  on 
Monday  the  event  was  celebrated  by  a  Public  Dinner  arid  by  a  Ball 
at  the  same  place.  This  was  the  Eighth  Public  Celebration  of 
Paine's  Birthday  in  New  York,  and  the  company  present  was  much 
more  numerous  than  on  any  former  occasion.  More  than  one  hun- 
dred gentlemen  sat  down  to  the  Dinner,  and  about  four  hundred 
ladies  and  gentlemen  were  present  at  the  Ball,  which  was  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Parker.  At  the  Dinner,  Mr.  MORRISON  presided, 
and  Messrs.  DITCHETT  and  OFFEN  acted  as  Vice  Presidents. 

After  the  removal  of  the  cloth,  the  first  of  the  regular  toasts,  which 
follow,  was  preceded  by  some  appropriate  remarks  by  the  President. 
TOASTS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  ARRANGEMENTS. 

1.  THOMAS  PAINE — We  meet  to  respect  his  memory  and  extend  his  prin- 
ciples. [Air  (by  the  band) — German  Hymn.  Original  Song — Hail,  hail  the  day.] 

SONG— HAIL,  HAIL,  THE  DAY.     AIR— Hail  to  the  Chief. 

WRITTEN  FOR  THE  95TH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  BIRTHDAY  OF  THOMAS  PAINE. 
How  blest  are  the  moments  that  o'er  us  are  fleeting ! 

We  hail  them  with  rapture  again  and  ag.iin  : 
For  oh,  while  they  fly,  they  are  sweetly  repeating 
The  era  so  bright  that  g:ive  birth  to  a  Paine. 
Then  was  the  mortal  dart 
Formed  for  the  tyrant's  heart, 
All  his  vile  :irt  cannot  turn  it  away. 
Shout,  then,  ye  brave  and  free, 
Sounds  breathifg  liberty — 
Shout,  then,  ye  brave  and  free,  Hail,  hail  the  Day. 

Long  has  deception  declared  from  her  allar 

'J  iMt  Deity  frowns  on  ihe  s  ave  who'd  repine, 
And  fain  would  she  yet  give  the  stake  or  the  rulter 
To  all  who  dare  doubt  that  a  King  is  divine. 

But  all  th^se  arts  are  vain, 

Man  scorns  the  fiendish  train, 
Truth,  Reason,  and  Justice  alone  he'll  obey. 

Oh,  'twas  immortal  Paine, 

Taugh'  mm  10  break  the  chain — 
Shout,  then,  ye  brave  and  free,  Hail,  hail  the  Day. 

When  dark  superstition,  MO  longer  oppressing, 

Shall  sink  in  the  frown  of  all  mankind's  disdain, 
Then  all  the  wrongs  he  has  done  him  confessing, 
Man  shall  for  ever  be  grateful  to  Paine. 

Then  shall  plain  "Common  Sense" 

Meet  with  due  reverence, 
The  rights  of  all  mankind  o'er  earth  hold  the  sway  ,• 

And  as  this  day  comes  round, 

O  how  each  heart  shall  bound— 
O  how  each  voice  shall  sound,  Hail,  hail  the  Day. 


25 

2.  Common  Sense — Its  characteristics  are  Truth,  Justice,  Fidelity,  and  Hu- 
manity.    [Air — Kinloch  of  Kinloch.] 

3.  The  Crisis — The  time  which  tried  men's  souls.     [Air — Yankee  Doodle. 
Song — The  Presbyterian  Cat — by  Mr.  Lawton.] 

4.  The  Rights  of  Man — In  pursuit  of  these,  may  we  be  as  steady  as  Time  and 
relentless  as  the  Grave.     [Air — Marseilles  Hymn.     Song — God  save  the  Rights 
of  Man — by  Mr.  Morrison.] 

5.  The  Age  of  Reason — May  its  principles,  like  another  sun,  penetrate  the 
dark  clouds  of  Superstition,  and  illuminate  the  habitable  globe.     [Air — Tyrolese 
Song  of  Liberty.     Song — Will  you  hear  Reason's  voice? — by  Mr.  Burton.] 

REASON'S  VOICE.     Am— Will  you  come  to  the  bower. 
Will  you  hear  Reason's  voice,  simple,  cogfnt,  and  true? 
'Tis  mankind's  dearest  interest  we  here  bring  to  view  : 

Will  you,  will  you,  will  you,  will  you  hear  Reason's  voice  ? 
Will  you,  will  you,  will  you,  will  you  hear  Reason's  voice  ? 
Education  in  errors,  with  coercive  powers, 
Has  for  ceul'ries  erabitter'd  man's  juvenile  hours. 

Will  you,  will  you,  &c. 

Like  the  tyrants  who  form'd  them,  each  system  pursu'd, 
is  on  selfishness  founded,  with  terrors  imbued  ! 

NVill  you,  will  you,  &c. 

Would  you  rear  a  Republic  in  essence  and  truth, 
Train  each  citizen  equal  from  earliest  youth. 

Will  you,  will  you,  &c. 

Yet  let  Woman  share  equally  wisdom's  bright  zone, 
She  of  Man's  mental  fame  lays  the  foundation  stone. 

Will  you,  will  you,  &c. 

But  while  "  High  Schools"  and  Colleges  "learn  on  the  sight, 
Aristocracy  insults  each  Freeman's  jti-u  riglit ! 

Will  you,  will  you,  &c. 

6.  The  Press — The  brightest  of  all  luminaries,  it  nurtures  and  animates  our 
intellectual  faculties.     [March.  Recitation— The  Feds— by  Mr.  Walter  Morton.] 

THE  FEDS.— (By  Thomas  Paine.) 

TO    THOMAS    JEFFERSON. 

I  send  you,  Sir,  a  tale  about  some  Feds, 

Who,  in  their  wisdom,  went  to  loggerheads ; 

The  case  was  this — they  felt  so  flat  and  sunk, 

They  took  a  glass  together,  and  got  drunk  : — 

Such  things,  you  know,  are  neither  new  nor  rare, 

For  men  will  hang  themsehcs  when  in  despair. 

It  was  the  natal  day  of  Washington, 

And  that  they  thought  a  famous  day  for  fun — 

For  with  the  learned  world  'tis  'greed 

The  better  day,  the  better  deed. 

They  top'd  away,  and  as  the  glass  went  round, 

They  grew  in  point  of  wisdom  more  profound ; 

For  at  the  bottom  of  the  bottle  lies 

That  kind  of  sense  we  overlook  when  wise. 

Come,  here's  a  toast,  cries  one,  with  roar  immense, 

"  May  none  know  pleasure  who  love  *  Common  Sense.'" 

Bravo  !  cried  some  ; — No,  no,  some  others  cried  j 

But  left  it  to  the  waiter  to  decide. 

I  think,  said  he,  the  case  would  be  more  plain, 

To  leave  out  "  Common  Sense,"  and  put  in  "  Paine." 

On  this,  a  noise  arose  among 

The  sunken,  drunken,  brawling  throng ; 

Some  said  that  Common  Sense  was  all  a  curse, 

That  making  people  wiser  made  them  worse  ; 

It  learnt  them  to  be  careful  of  their  purse, 

And  not  be  laid  about  like  babes  at  nurse, 


26 

Nor  yet  believe  in  stories  upon  trust, 

Which  all  mankind,  to  be  well  governed,  must ; 

And  that  the  toast  was  better  at  the  first, 

And  he  that  did  not  think  so,  might  be  curst ! 

So  on  they  went,  till  such  a  fray  arose, 

As  all  who  know  what  Feds  are  may  suppose. 

7.  Truth — It  requires  not  the  garnish  of  poetry,  nor  the  tinselled  trappings  of 
eloquence,  to  convince  mankind  that  it  is  the  only  safe  guide  to  happiness.     [Air 
— Sweet  home.     Song — There's  nothing  like  Truth — by  Mr.  Morrison.] 

8.  Science — The  partizan  of  no  country — the  beneficent  patron  of  all.  [March.] 

9.  Civil  and  Religious  Liberty — Vast  as  the  universe — free  as  the  air — and 
generous  as  the  light.     [Air — Bruce's  Address.     Song — Tyrolese  Song  of  Liber- 
ty— by  Mr.  Burton.] 

10.  Philosophy — The  powerful  lever  by  which  man  has  raised  himself  above 
the  level  of  the  brute,  and  dignified  his  character  by  increasing  his  powers  of 
usefulness.     [Air — Speed  the  Plough.] 

11.  Education — May  it  be  as  universal  as  it  is  beneficial  to  man.    [Air — Bon- 
ny Boat.     Song — Education  forms  the  Man — by  Mr.  Burton.] 

EDUCATION  FORMS  THE  MAN.     AIR— Jluld  Lang  Syne. 

Since  none  his  destiny  can  rule,  >  Had  Judges  be^n  like  Convicts  rear'd, 

From  infancy  to  man  ;  )      And  Criminals  like  Court; 

*Tis  ours  to  search  for  wisdom's  school,  r  Exchange  of  place  had  then  appear'd 

His  infant  powers  to  scan.  /      For  Jurymen's  report ! 
Chorus — We're  all  born  equal,  friends — •  We're  all  born  equal,  &c. 

We're  ail  horn  free ;  Since  woman's  nurture  rears  the  child, 


'Tis  Education  forms  the  man, 

What  e'er  he  be! 

Should  vice  and  poverty  surround 
The  child,  with  noisome  strife  ; 
Deprav'd  and  poor  he  still  is  found, 
In  mind  and  mien  through  life. 

We're  all  born  equal,  &c. 
If  wealth  and  power  be  his  lot, 


How  truly  great  should  be 
Her  reas'ning  powers— how  firm,  yet  inild, 

To  raise  the  mental  tree ! 

We're  all  born  equal,  &c. 
Since,  then,  we're  equal  born,  'tis  clear, 

Still  equal  to  remain, 
Monopoly  of  Wisdom  ne'er 

Should  our  Republic  stain  ! 


And  menials  round  him  wait ;  ^  We're  all  born  equal,  friends, 

The  infant  lord  is  ne'er  forgot,  /                             We're  all  born  free  ! 

Whatc'er  his  man's  estate  !  Then  Equal  Education  claim, 

We're  all  born  equal,  &c.  f                             Whoe'er  you  he  ! 

12.  Nature's  Code — The  standard  of  truth:     [Air — Ye  Bank  and  Braes.] 

13.  Superstition — May  the  edifices  erected  to  perpetuate  this  source  of  delu~ 
sion,  bigotry,  falsehood,  and  oppression,  speedily  become  the  temples  of  science, 
reason,  and  philosophy.     [Air — Away  with  Melancholy.     Recitation — by  Mr.. 
Burton.] 

STEPHEN  GIRARD'S  WILL. 

Rejoice,  ye  lovers  of  the  human  race  ; 
And  all  true  liberals,  eager  in  the  chase 
For  man's  reform ;  rejoice,  our  cause  improves, 
The  march  of  mind  accelerated  moves  ! 
GIRARD'S  good  WILL  for  Liberal  Education 
"  Has  (it  is  said)  electrified  the  nation." 
The  Clergy  feel  it  too,  with  trembling  frown, — 
The  shock  is  strong  enough  to  knock  them  down! 

Shall  Free  Enquirers  not  their  paeans  raise, 
And  sing,  with  joy,  the  good  old  Frenchman's  praise  ? 
'Tis  "  peace  on  earth  ;  GOOD  WILL  to  all  mankind," 
As  we,  and  hosts  of  Orphan  Boys  shall  find  ! 

Hail !  Knowledge,  hail !  my  very  heart  rebound* 
With  joy  extatic,  at  the  glorious  sounds. 
Two  millions  will'd,  a  College  to  erect 
For  WISDOM  ;  free  from  priestly  creed  or  sect ! 
With  gifts  most  amply  to  endow  the  same,. 
A  firm  memento  of  his  deathless  name. 


27 

The  first  of  Colleges,  whose  wholesome  rul«« 
Forbid  to  rear  dogmatic  slaves  and  fools  ! 
For  what  are  men  but  mental  slaves  in  deed, 
From  infancy  coerced  in  faith  or  creed  ? 
True  liberty  of  conscience  there  shall  reign, 
Though  sought,  in  ev'ry  school,  elsewhere,  in  vain  j 
And  "  facts  and  things,  instead  of  words  and  signs," 
Shall  form  the  mind,  as  reas'ning  truth  inclines. 

If,  after  such  an  education  gain'd, 
Wild  speculations  prove  a  youth  hair-brain'd, 
And  he  for  visionary  worlds  should  mope, 
His  conscience,  then,  may  have  the  freest  scope ; 
But,  take  my  word,  youth  trained  in  solid  facts 
Till  o'er  sixteen,  play  few  priest-ridden  acts  ! 

Yet  one  reflection,  still,  my  joy  abates, 
O,  where  shall  youth  so  train'd  find  equal  mates  ? 
Had  good  GIRARD  bid  Female  Orphans  share 
The  kind  protection  of  his  gen'rous  care, 
How  many  Fair  had  shunn'd  each  deadly  shaft 
Of  foul  seduction,  or  of  priestly  craft! 

"  The  mother  forms  the  citizen,  in  youth," 
Said  Doctor  Mitchell,  once ;  and  was't  not  truth? 
And  if  our  wives  are  slaves,  'tis  clear  to  see, 
We  scarce  can  hope  to  rear  our  children  free. 

Yet,  0,  'tis  joyful !  such  example  bright, 
Securely  stands,  a  beacon,  spreading  light 
O'er  all  the  land,  from  whence,  ere  long  shall  spread 
The  fall  of  creeds,  and  superstitions  dread  ! 
Methinks  I  see  each  clerical  Paul  Pry 
Sneaking  and  peeping,  with  a  jealous  eye; 
While  rear'd  the  Avails  of  this  majestic  pile, 
For  ever  clos'd  to  priestly  plot  and  wile  ! 
Ay !  even  "  as  visitors,"  so  runs  the  exclusion, 
To  guard  its  happy  inmates  from  delusion  ! 

14.  The  Union — Consecrated  by  the  blood  of  our  fathers,  and  endeared  to 
tis  by  innumerable  blessings.     [Air — Hail  Columbia.     Song — Star  Spangled 
Banner.] 

15.  The  memory  of  all  men,  in  every  age  and  country,  who  have  fearlessly 
advocated  the  principles  of  political  and  mental  liberty.  *[Air — Auld  Lang  Syne. 
Recitation — Death  of  Gen  Wolfe— by  Mr.  Morton.] 

16.  Ecclesiastical  and  Civil  Tyranny — May  the  efforts,  now  making  by  our 
brethren  in  Europe,  to  emancipate  themselves  from  these  foes  of  human  happi- 
ness, be  pre-eminently  successful.     [Air — March  to  the  Battle  Field.     Song 
— Freedom  of  the  Press — by  Mr.  Burton.] 

17.  The  Republicans  of  every  Country — May  they  ere  long  shake  hands  over 
the  grave  of  the  last  tyrant.    {Air — Star  Spangled  Banner.     Song — Let  us 
Enquire — by  Mr.  Burton.] 

LET  US  ENQUIRE! 


Ye  friends  of  Liberty, 
Join  heart  and  voice  with  me- 
Let  us  Enquire. 
Why,  to  this  very  day, 
Bears  man  o'er  man  rude  sway  ? 


Tyrants  and  priests  in  dread, 
(By  fear  and  folly  fed,) 
Already  hang  the  head, 

When  men  Enquire. 
Reason  her  seat  shall  claim, 


Oh !  'tis  they  dare  not  say,  No  ionger  merely  name, 

Let  us  Enquire.  While  we  Enquire. 

Yet  man  shall  soon  confess,  )  Science  and  truth  shall  stand, 

While  Freedom  guides  the  press,        '  United,  hand  in  hand, 

All  may  Enquire.  J  Sounding  through  all  the  land — 

f  Lei  us  Enquire  ! 


28 

18.  Universal  Philanthrophy — May  no  private  bias,  or  selfish  motive,  prevent 
tis  from  promoting  it.    [Air — Life  let  us  Cherish.     Song — by  Mr.  Lawton.] 

ORIGINAL  SONG. 

Am— All  the  Blue  Bonnets  are  over  the  Border. 
March,  march,  friends  of  great  THOMAS  PAINE, 
Forward,  and  march  to  the  feast  in  good  order ; 
Sound,  sound,  sound  forth  his  mighty  name ; 
Hail  his  Birthday  on  Columbia's  border. 
Let  your  united  voice 
Prove  to  the  world  your  choice  ; 
Freedom  and  virtue  the  theme  of  each  story  : 
Let  all  unite  and  sing, 
Death  to  each  despot  king, 

Downfal  to  priests,  to  their  wealth  and  their  glory. 
March,  march,  &c. 

Come  from  the  valley,  the  plain,  and  the  mountain, 

On,  Freemen,  on,  to  the  feast  come  away  ; 
Drink  of  the  waters  from  Reason's  pure  fountain, 
On,  Freemen,  on,  to  the  feast  then  away ! 
Mirth  and  delight  you'll  find, 
Wisdom  with  truth  combined, 
Bliss  of  the  purest  kind,  friendship  and  order, 
Shall  wave  their  magic  wand 
Far  over  sea  and  land, 

Till  base  oppression  shrinks  from  each  border. 
March,  march,  &c. 

Hail,  hail,  hail  to  to  the  brave  and  free, 

Hail  to  the  Birthday  of  Freedom's  defender ; 
Long,  long,  long,  PAINE,  thy  name  shall  be 
Blended  with  Freedom,  exalted  in  splendor. 
Long  shall  Columbia  be 
Home  of  the  brave  and  free, 
The  pride  of  the  world  shall  story  record  her  j 
While  after  times  shall  say, 
PAINE,  'twas  thy  natal  day 
Shed  freedom  and  light  far,  far  o'er  each  border. 
March,  march,  &c. 

19.  The  People — The  source  of  all  political  power.   May  they  be  sufficiently 
enlightened  to  exerise  that  power.     [Air— All  the  Blue  Bonnets.     Song — by  Mr. 
Stevenson.] 

20.  The  Fair — May  they  soon  enjoy  equal  rights  and  equal  privileges  with 
man.     [Air — Green  grow  the  Rushes.    Recitation — What  is  Love? — by  Mr, 
Morton.] 

WHAT  IS  LOVE?— (BY  PAINE.) 

'Tis  that  delightsome  transport  we  can  feel 
Which  painters  cannot  paint,  nor  words  reveal, 
Nor  any  art  we  know  of,  can  conceal. 
Can'stthou  describe  the  sunbeams  to  the  blind? 
Or  make  him  feel  a  shadow  with  his  mind  ? 
So  neither  can  we  by  description  show 
This  first  of  all  felicities  below  ; 
When  happy  love  pours  magic  o'er  the  soul, 
And  all  our  thoughts  in  sweet  delirium  roll, 
When  contemplation  spreads  her  rainbow  wings, 
And  every  flutter  some  new  rapture  brings, 
How  sweetly  then  our  moments  glide  away, 
And  dreams  renew  the  transports  of  the  day. 
We  live  in  extacy  to  all  things  kind, 
For  love  can  teach  a  moral  to  the  mind. 


20 

6ut  are  there  not  some  other  things  that  prore 
What  is  the  wonder  of  the  soul  called  love  ? 
Oh  yes !  there  are,  but  of  a  different  kind, 
The  dreadful  horrors  of  a  tortured  mind, 
Some  jealous  fiend  throws  his  poisoned  dart, 
And  rends  in  pieces  the  distracted  heart. 
When  love's  a  tyrant,  and  the  soul  a  slave, 
No  hope  remains  for  thought,  but  in  the  grave ; 
In  that  dark  den,  it  sees  an  end  to  grief, 
And  what  was  once  its  dread,  becomes  relief. 
What  are  the  iron  chains  that  hands  have  wrought? 
The  hardest  chain  to  break  is  made  of  thought. 
Think  well  on  this,  ye  lovers,  and  be  kind, 
Nor  play  with  torture  on  a  tortured  mind. 

VOLUNTEER    TOASTS. 

By  the  President.  Col.  Richard  J\l.  Johnson — The  bold  and  fearless  advocate 
nnd  defender  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  His  Sunday  Mail  Reports  entitle  him 
to  the  gratitude  of  every  Republican  and  lover  of  practical  liberal  princfples. 

B.  J.  Ditchett,  1st  Vice  President.  The  Striped  and  Star  Spangled  Banner  of 
^America — Blended  in  union  and  peace  with  the  flags  of  nations,  may  it  be  honored 
on  entering  every  foreign  port. 

By  Mr.  Often,  2d  Vice  President.  Candor  and  Moral  Courage — Two  indis- 
pensible  jngredients  in  every  advocate  of  free  enquiry. 

By  a  Guest.  Knowledge — Where  reason  is  left  free  to  combat  error,  religious 
faith  in  revelations,  miracles,  and  witchcraft,  must  give  place  to  rational  systems 
of  ethics,  founded  on  the  nature  and  the  condition  of  man. 

By  Walter  Morton.  Prejudice — "  The  spider  of  the  mind."  Alas  !  the  web 
which  it  has  wove  conceals  from  the  view  those  rare  and  bright  qualities  which 
adorned  the  character  of  Paine. 

By  Gibbs  Sibley.  Thomas  Paine — The  first  man  who  had  the  moral  courage 
to  teach  the  American  people  their  religious  and  political  rights — to  disturb  the 
hornet's  nest  of  kings  and  priests,  creed  mongers  and  bigots,  fanatics  and  fools. 

By  John  Lawton.  Richard  Car/tie,  and  the  Rev.  Robert  Taylor,  of  England — 
Persecuted  advocates  of  free  discussion.  May  success  crown  their  efforts  by  a 

redy  abolishment  of  those  impositions  which  have  so  long  been  practised  upon 
credulity  of  mankind. 

By  J.  Wells.  Thomas  Paints  Jlge  of  Reason — Christians  read  it ;  it  will  con- 
vince you  of  the  impositions  of  priestcraft. 

By  a  Guest.  The  tree  of  Liberty — May  it  be  surrounded  by  the  beautiful  plants 
of  Reason  and  Knowledge,  and  may  the  poisonous  weeds  of  priestcraft  and 
superstition  be  pulled  up  by  the  roots. 

By  John  Lawton.  Our  Public  Highways — May  the  unconstitutional  practice 
of  obstructing  them  for  superstitious  observances  every  seventh  day,  be  speedily 
abolished,  as  a  daring  encroachment  upon  our  RIGHTS  and  LIBERTIES. 

By  a  Guest.  Sinful  Jlcis — When  man  shall  know  his  true  predicament  in 
nature,  he  will  no  longer  depend  upon  prayers  and  vicarious  sufferings  for  the 
atonement  of  errors  which  he  alone  can  rectify. 

By  George  H.  Evans.  Col.  Richard  Jtf.  Johnson,  of  Kentucky — The  man  who 
successfully  defended  the  Citadel  of  Equal  Rights  against  the  first  attack  of  the 
Legions  of  Priestcraft.  A  free  people  are  preparing  his  reward. 

By  a  Guest.  The  Will  of  the  late  Stephen  Girard — The  talisman  to  unrivet 
the  chains  prepared  for  millions  yet  unborn. 

Sent  by  a  lady.  Clinton — May  that  name  remain  immortal  as  the  magnificent 
statue  of  Causichi. 

By  John  Lawton.  The  brave  but  unfortunate  Poles — May  a  just  and  speedy 
retribution  overtake  their  base  oppressors. 

By  a  G  uest  Religion — Belief  in  unintelligible  dogmas,  about  which  mankind 
have  been  cutting  each  other's  throats  from  the  earliest  period  of  recorded  time. 
May  the  word  be  erased  from  all  languages,  and  morals  substituted  in  its  place. 

By  T.  L.  Waddell.    Martin  Van  Buren—A.  citizen  of  New-York. 


30 

By  Mr.  Offen.  The  memory  of  the  late  Walter  Morton — The  faithful  fviend, 
and  executor  of  the  Will  of  Thomas  Paine,  who  closed  Paine's  eyes  in  death. 

After  the  above  toast  was  drank,  Walter  Morton,  son  of  the 
deceased,  rose  and  made  the  following  reply,  in  an  eloquent  and 
impressive  manner : — 

Mr.  Chairman — Permit  me,  Sir,  to  return  my  heartfelt  thanks  for  this  mark 
t)f  respect  paid  to  the  memory  of  my  deceased  father.  It  is  with  much  pleasure 
that  I  behold  this  numerous  and  respectable  assemblage,  met  for  the  purpose 
of  paying  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  departed  worth  and  greatness. 
A  kindly  remembrance  of  the  dead,  of  those  who  have,  in  this  worldly  career, 
•shared  our  affections,  who  have  mingled  with  our  joys  and  participated  in  our 
sorrows,  is  at  all  times  a  pleasing  task ;  but  to  the  memory  of  those  like  the  im- 
mortal Paine,  whose  whole  life  was  devoted  to  the  welfare  and  improvement  of 
the  human  race,  and  the  evidence  of  whose  usefulness  we  now  see,  in  the  rapid 
extension  of  free  and  liberal  principles,  we  recur  with  gratitude  as  well  as  plea- 
sure. Who  can  peruse,  with  a  prejudiced  eye,  his  political  writings,  which 
made  their  appearance  at  the  dawn  of  the  revolution  in  this  country,  when  we 
were  under  the  subjection  of  a  foreign  and  tyrannical  power,  groaning  with  the 
burden  of  taxation  and  oppression,  and  which  had  such  a  thrilling  effect  upon 
the  minds  of  the  people  at  that  period  ?  Compare  the  then  situation  of  our 
country  with  what  you  now  behold  it;  look  around  and  about  you,  glory  and 
prosperity  attend  us,  peace  and  contentment  smile  about  every  dwelling ;  and 
when  we  reflect  that  it  was  the  genius  of  Paine  that  was  mainly  instrumental 
in  laying  the  foundation  of  our  liberties,  can  we  but  feel  our  bosoms  throb 
with  admiration  for  his  talents,  and  with  gratitude  for  his  invaluable  services, 
while  we  must  feel  them  thrill  with  indignation  towards  those  who  heap  abuse 
upon  his  memory.  Yes,  there  are  Jlmericans,  to  their  shame  be  it  said,  who  look 
upon  you  with  disdain,  if  you  lisp  in  terms  of  praise  the  name  of  Paine,  merely 
because  he  had  the  independence  to  give  to  the  world  his  opinions  upon  theology. 
Is  it  natural  to  suppose  that  a  mighty  mind  like  that  of  Paine,  could  be  confined 
to  the  narrow  limits  of  a  prison  house,  and  restrained  from  giving  his  views 
upon  any  subject  ? 

Mr.  Chairman — It  is  now  twenty-three  years  since  the  man  whose  birth  we 
are  now  celebrating,  was  returned  unto  the  earth  from  which  he  sprang,  and 
gathered  to  his  fathers  ;  and  yet  there  are  those  who  would  wish  to  hide  his 
talents  and  his  fame  in  that  grave  where  repose  his  ashes.  Let  it  be  our  duty, 
Sir,  to  protect  his  memory  and  his  name,  from  the  foul  breath  of  calumny  and 
aspersion,  whatever  may  have  been  his  errors,  (and  who  will  deny  that  he  had 
errors  ?  for  he  was  but  human  nature ;  and  where  can  you  point  to  it  and  find  it 
freed  from  failings.  But  with  Paine,  I  am  inclined  to  the  belief,  "  that  even  hia 
failings  leaned  to  virtue's  side,")  bury  them  in  oblivion,  cover  them  with  the 
mantle  of  charity,  of  which  Christians  so  much  boast  of  being  the  possessors. 
But  his  merits. and  his  virtues,  hide  not  them;  let  them  be  raised  above  the 
tomb,  and  shine  in  that  bright  and  conspicuous  lustre  which  should  ever  attend 
them. 

By  R.  D.  Letter.  Jlbner  Kneeland — The  worthy  and  honest  Editor  of  the  Bos- 
ton Investigator,  and  able  advocate  of  the  rights  of  man. 

By  David  I.  Burger.  Robert  Dale  Owen,  Editor  of  the  Free  Enquirer — The 
amiable  advocate  of  Free  Enquiry,  may  his  labors  be  as  successful  as  his  talents 
are  conspicuous. 

By  J.  W.  Mitchell.  The  Daily  Sentinel  and  Working  Man's  Advocate — The 
"  faithful"  guardians  of  the  people's  rights,  and  the  "  fearless"  contemners  of 
every  principle  that  tends  to  a  country's  ruin — May  their  conductors,  though 
unable  to  command  success,  ever  continue  to  deserve  it. 

By  a  Guest.  The  Memory  of  Thomas  Paine — May  those  who  calumniate  him, 
while  living  in  the  enjoyment;  of  benefits  which  his  efforts  eminently  contributed 
to  attain,  feel  remorse  and  shame  for  their  ingratitude. 

By  George  Adams.  May  the  wings  of  Liberty  overspread  the  world,  and  th« 
down  fall  in  our  city. 


31 

Sent  by  a  Lady.  The  memory  of  the  immortal  Thomat  Paine — The  author  of  the 
Rights  of  Man,  and  the  Age  of  Reason. 

By  G.  Vale.  Mr.  Paine  as  he  was — His  opponents  as  they  ought  to  be,  asha- 
med of  themselves. 

By  H.  C.  Spicer.  The  fair  Daughters  of  America — who  make  "  home,  sweet 
home,"  the  paradise  yet  left  to  man. 

By  T.  Thompson.  The  Memory  of  Stephen  Girard — The  friend  of  the  orphan, 
and  the  enemy  of  priestly  influence. 

By  C.  Burton.     Miss  Frances  Wright — The  most  intelligent  woman  of  the  age. 

By  John  Morrison.  Lord  Brougham — The  noble  advocate  of  political  and 
religious  liberty  in  Great  Britain. 

By  George  H.  Evans.  Thomas  Hcrttell — The  able  advocate  of  civil  and  reli- 
gious liberty  in  the  United  States. 

By  T.  Thompson.  Dr.  Cooper,  President  of  Columbia  College,  S.  C. — The 
learned  and  able,  but  persecuted  defender  of  religious  and  civil  liberty. 

By  a  Guest.  Gen.  La  Fayette — The  undeviating  Patriot  and  liberal  Republi- 
can ;  may  he  live  to  see  his  beloved  country  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  arduous 
services — a  Republican  form  of  government,  peace  and  happiness. 

By  a  Guest.     Thomas  Paine — The  benefactor  of  mankind — 
His  works  remain  the  greatest  pain 
To  priests,  who  would  our  minds  enchain. 

By  a  Guest.  The  Church  and  State  parly — May  it  be  scattered  to  the  four 
winds. 

By  E.  Tallmadge.  Science — May  it  spread  through  the  world,  and  uproot 
every  fable  that  has  cursed  the  earth. 

By  B.  Gillen.  His  Satanic  Majesty,  who  goes  through  the  earth  like  a  roaring; 
lion — May  Common  Sense  soon  send  him  to  a  quarter  with  his  old  acquain- 
tances, the  witches  of  Salem. 

By  W.  Davies.  The  Health  of  Mr.  Win.  Cobbett,  the  ovowed  pupil  of  Thomas 
Paine — The  most  powerful  political  writer  since  his  instructor's  death. 

By  a  Guest.  America — May  the  political  clouds  of  despotism  which  darken 
Europe,  never  tarnish  the  sunlight  of  freedom  which  illuminates  thee. 

The  following  toast,  and  the  paragraph,  from  a  late  English 
paper,  which  accompanies  it,  were  handed  to  the  President,  and 
read  by  him  from  the  chair  during  the  evening. 

Public  Opinion — Ever  varying  :  may  all*  its  variations  be  founded  on  intelli- 
gence and  justice. 

*  Change  of  Public  Opinion. — On  the  13th  of  February,  1792,  the  effigy  of 
Paine,  after  being  shown  about  the  streets,  was  attended  by  two  sweeps,  one 
bearing  "  The  Rights  of  Man,"  and  the  other  "  The  Age  of  Reason."  A  gallows 
was  erected  on  Gosta  Green,  where,  after  hanging  the  usual  time,  he  was  com- 
mitted to  the  flames,  and  the  two  books  with  him.  On  Saturday  last,  what  was 
our  surprise  on  beholding,  on  the  very  same  spot,  one  of  the  Fathers  in  God, 
who  so  lately  voted  for  a  continuance  of  bribery,  perjury,  drunkenness,  and 
crimes  of  all  sorts,  hanging  on  a  gallows  twelve  feet  high,  with  a  label,  on  which 
was  written,  "  Behold  him !  one  of  the  unholy  conclave  of  21,  who,  while  they 
are  living  on  the  public  plunder,  are  the  stern  opposers  of  the  liberty  of  the 
people."  After  hanging  the  usual  time  that  culprits  hang,  he  was  committed  to 
the  flames,  as  an  example  to  evil  doers. — Birmingham  Representative. 

The  following  effusion  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Offen,  in  the  course 
of  the  evening,  introduced  by  the  following  remark: — "  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, as  it  is  not  uncommon  now-a-days  for  coblers  to  turn  poets, 
I  will,  with  your  permission,  give  you  the  result  of  some  reflections 
that  have  presented  themselves  to  my  mind  since  the  toast,  '  Com- 
mon Sense1  was  drank." 


When  freedom  first  her  standard  rais'd  on  fair  Columbia's  shore, 
Her  sons  march'd  forth  to  meet  the  foe,  amid  the  cannon's  roar  ! 
The  foe  they  fought  like  heroes  brave,  nor  did  they  miss  their  aim, 
For  every  shot  was  aided  by  the  "  Common  Sense"  of  Paine.  * 

What  vict'ries  did  those  heroes  gain,  for  nought  could  make  them  yield, 
Till  British  blood  in  torrents  flow'd,  and  drenched  the  tented  field  ; 
For  liberty  they  fought  and  bled,  no  force  could  them  dismay, 
So  British  pride  was  soon  put  down,  and  with  it  British  sway, 

But  faithful  hist'ry  doth  record  those  deeds  of  glory  won, 
And  nations  yet  unborn  shall  bless  the  name  of  Washington : 
Americans,  a  boon  I  ask,  let  me  not  ask  in  vain, 
Give  not  your  laurels  all  away,  but  save  one  sprig  for  Paine. 

Many  volunteer  toasts  and  sentiments  were  given  during  the 
evening  which  were  not  reduced  to  writing,  and  which  consequent- 
ly are  unrecorded.  The  whole  were  accompanied,  at  intervals,  hy 
choice  songs  and  recitations.  After  the  company  left  the  table, 
two  of  the  gentlemen  who  had  partaken  of  the  repast,  entertained 
the  guests,  as  well  as  the  company  in  the  Ball  Room,  with  an  ex- 
hibition of  correct  portraits  of  Paine,  Washington,  Jefferson, 
Franklin,  &c.,  by  the  aid  of  the  magic  lantern.  The  whole  evening 
was  spent  by  the  assembled  multitude  in  uninterrupted  hilarity  and 
enjoyment,  and  no  doubt  with  benefit  to  the  cause  of  truth  and 
liberal  principles. 


XX5ERAL    WORKS 

For  sale  by  George  H.  Evans,  No.  1  Mott  Street,  and  by  John 
Morrison,  No.  135  Chatham  Street,  New  York. 


The  Bible  of  Reason,  Part  I., 
or  Scriptures  of  Ancient 
Authors,  $0  75 

The  Bible  of  Reason,  Part 
II.,  or  Scriptures  of  Mo- 
dern Authors,  1  00 

The  Bible  of  Reason,  Parts  I. 
and  II.  By  B.  F.  Powell,  1  50 

Discussion  on  the  Existence 
of  God  and  the  Authenti- 
city of  the  Bible,  between 
Origen  Bacheler  and  Ro- 
bert Dale  Owen,  2  vols.,  1  25 

Vice  Unmasked;  An  Essay 
on  the  Influence  of  Wealth,  75 

The  Philosophical  Dictiona- 
ry of  M.  De  Voltaire,  75 

Volney's  Ruins,  75 

The  Age  of  Reason,  by  Tho- 
mas Paine,  8vo.  56  cents, 
ISmo.  38 

Popular  Tracts  ;  edited  by 
Robert  Dale  Owen  ;  the 
series  complete  in  one  vo- 
lume, 200  pages,  44 


Ecce  Homo !  or  a  Critical 
Enquiry  into  the  History 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  1  00 
The  Elements  of  Modern 
Materialism.  By  Charles 
Knowlton,  M.  D.  1  25 

A  Review  of  the  Evidences 
of  Christianity.  By  Ab- 
ner  Kneeland,  50 

The  Demurrer.  By  Thomas 

Herttell,  50 

The  People's  Rights  Reclaim- 
ed.    By  Thomas  Herttell,    25 
Good  Sense.    By  Mirabeau,     50 
Moral  Physiology.     By  R. 

D.  Owen,  38 

A  Few  Days  in  Athens,  38 

Frances  Wright's  Lectures,     50 
Queen  Mab.    By  Shelley,        38 
Palmer's  Principles  of  Na- 
ture, 75 
Spiritual  Mustard  Pot,  50 
View  of  the  Public  Discus- 
sion between  Owen  and 
Campbell.  56 


Also,  a  variety  of  other  liberal  Books,  Pamphlets,  and  Tracts,  including  an 
assortment  of  the  London  publications  of  Richard  Carlile. 


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